In California, a startup has developed a compostable bioplastic using seaweed as feedstock. Named Sway, the bioplastic is stronger than low-density polyethylene and can be delivered clear or in colors and textures that make it obvious it is based on seaweed. And, unlike the corn-based bioplastics that make up most of the market, Sway’s material […]
In Georgia, two leading bioplastics companies have partnered to support demand for blends of polyhydroxyalkanoate and polylactic acid. Danimer Scientific, Inc. and Total Corbion PLA have signed a long-term arrangement for Total Corbion PLA to supply its Luminy® PLA to Danimer as Danimer works to scale up the commercial production of its Nodax® PHA. Danimer […]
In Taiwan, polyester producer Far Eastern New Century Corp has developed surgical masks using sugarcane bagasse. The new masks have a 60% lower carbon footprint compared to petroleum-based masks, but also cost about three times as much, FENC tells Central News Agency. Nonetheless, interest has been firm, particularly from Japan and Europe. The fibers can […]
In France, designers at Atelier Luma are using salt crystals to produce interior cladding for the eagerly anticipated Arles tower. Over 4,000 glass-like panels—comprised of salt crystals grown on metal mesh using only sunlight and wind—have been installed in the Frank Gehry skyscraper. Henna Burney and Kalijn Sibbel of Atelier Luma, who created the panels, […]
In the UK, researchers have made fully biodegradable glitter that sparkles just as brightly as its persistent plastic predecessor. University of Cambridge scientists used wood pulp, but say other cellulose-rich wastes could be used. The sparkle was achieved by coaxing microscopic surfaces of cellulose to align in such a way that they bend light—thus creating […]
In Virginia, researchers with Virginia Tech developing lab-grown crab meat gained the distinction of being among six recipients of USDA’s first grant pool for cellular agriculture. “Overall we are trying to produce meat without killing animals,” Reza Ovissipour, a food science assistant professor and lead at Virginia Tech’s Future Foods Lab and Cellular Agriculture Initiative, […]
In Dublin, a biotech firm that counts U2 rockers Bono and The Edge among its early backers has raised an additional $45 million. Nuritas aims to launch its first two products—a peptide for skin health first identified in peas and a muscle health peptide found in fava beans—in 2022. The Series B funding brings its […]
In Germany, DHL Freight started piloting a Bio-LNG solution (Bio-Liquefied Natural Gas from sustainable biomass) with Shell on three haulier trucks in June 2021 to sustainably reduce CO2 emissions in road freight transport for DHL’s customer Grundfos. In the first five months, the volume of Bio-LNG lifted has reduced 87 tons of CO2 eq. This […]
In California, UPSIDE Foods has opened a cultivated meat engineering, production and innovation center in Emeryville. Dubbed EPIC, the center can annually produce over 50,000 pounds of finished product, which includes ground or whole cuts of meat, poultry or seafood, and can be expanded to reach 400,000 lbs of output. “Today, our team at UPSIDE […]
The city of Amsterdam has declared mandates for new housing to use biobased materials, beginning in 2025. Called Green Deal Timber Construction, all 32 municipalities within the greater Amsterdam region have signed the legislation. The goal is to reduce the significant carbon dioxide emissions associated with steel and concrete in line with the city’s target […]
