In London, BSF Enterprise PLC has announced a £15-million (US$19.9-million) fundraise to advance its Lab-Grown Leather technology, with the ultimate goal of showcasing the world’s first T-Rex leather in 2026. The headline-grabbing innovation is possible by incorporating “uniquely defined DNA” derived from the prehistoric animal, and plans for the exhibit are being finalized in partnership […]
In Switzerland, sustainable golf products company Innoguer GmbH has been awarded the prestigious InnoPrix SO! by the Baloise Bank Ltd foundation in recognition of its development of the Loop biodegradable golf ball. Set to hit Swiss retail shelves in 2027, Loop golf balls are made of high-performance biopolymers. According to Innoguer, approximately 1 billion golf […]
In Kansas, specialty materials maker Futamura USA is producing glitter from its parent company’s NatureFlex™ films, which have demonstrated wastewater, marine, and soil biodegradability. Glitter is increasingly under fire for its contribution to microplastic pollution, and is facing numerous bans worldwide. NatureFlex™ films are produced from renewable wood pulp, harvested from responsibly managed plantations, and […]
A team of researchers from UK’s Nottingham Trent University and Yale University’s Center for Green Chemistry and Green Engineering have demonstrated a more sustainable alternative to photoluminescent solid-state materials used in display technologies, lighting, sensors, security inks, and biomedical imaging. Combining lignin and histidine, the team was able to create materials that absorb ultraviolet light […]
In London, design firm Morrama and 3D printing studio Batch.Works have created headphones for children made of the bioplastic polylactic acid. Dubbed Kibu, the headphones are made for kids aged 5-11. They come in pieces that easily snap together, so they can be “assembled and disassembled with little hands,” Batch.Works tells design publication dezeen. “Engaging […]
In Norway, three companies have been recognized by the The Future is Fungi award, which was launched in 2023 to recognize pioneers in using fungal biotechnology to address global challenges in food, personal care, and waste management. Out of 187 entrants, Michroma took the stop prize for its use of fungi to produce natural food […]
In the United Kingdom, a company converting biobased polymers and biochar—a byproduct of pyrolyzing agricultural waste—into a compostable alternative to polystyrene foam is set to begin scaling production. Dubbed Carbon Cell, the foam is lightweight, insulating, protective, and insulating. It also sequesters carbon. CEO Elisabeth Lee told design publication dezeen that its largest market is […]
In Spain, Moeve and Honeywell have expanded an existing collaboration for scaling biobased linear alkylbenzene production technologies. LAB is used to produce linear alkylbenzene sulfonate, the main surfactant in the production of commonly used household detergents. Moeve’s technology to produce NextLab-R, the first LAB produced at industrial scale using renewable raw materials, will be made […]
In Germany, the German Institutes of Textile and Fiber Research Denkendorf and LEKI Lenhart GmbH have created a hiking pole made from hemp and other raw materials. They hope the concept will demonstrate sustainable materials’ suitability for demanding outdoor recreation markets. Using pultrusion, the hiking pole’s shaft was made from regionally harvested hemp fibers. The […]
In North Carolina, designer Gabriel Mejia-Estrella has created a working synthesizer made from cardboard and walnut. A recent graduate in Music Technology from University of North Carolina Asheville, Mejia-Estrella was inspired to create the unique synth because unlike elegant and often aesthetically pleasing instruments like guitars or pianos, traditional synths are largely unattractive, more akin […]
