In Colorado, state legislature is poised to legalize human composting after a lawmaker began pondering her own mortality. State Representative Brianna Titone told the Baltimore Sun she sponsored the bill because neither end-of-life option—burial and cremation—appealed to her. Governor Jared Polis has indicated he will sign the bill into law, which will officially make Colorado […]
In France, lifestyle sneaker brand Umòja Shoes has unveiled a 100% biobased and biodegradable sneaker. Dubbed MMEA—Swahili for plant—the shoe uses many materials and methods already employed by artisans in Africa. The upper part of the shoe is made from organic cotton woven by Burkina Faso artisans, while the outer sole is made from […]
In Germany, two design students have made see-through shopping totes that can be dissolved in water or used as fertilizer once the consumer is done with it. Dubbed Sonnet155, the bag is the brainchild of Lobke Beckfeld and Johanna Hehemeyer-Cürten, both of whom are studying for master’s degrees at the Weißensee Academy of Art Berlin. […]
In Singapore, design firm Forest & Whale has created single-use takeout packaging made from wheat husk and polyhydroxyalkanoate, a bioplastic made by bacteria. Dubbed Reuse, company cofounders Gustavo Maggio and Wendy Chua say the packaging can be composted or even eaten. “While single-use plastic containers are convenient and quick to get rid of, they […]
In New York and the Netherlands, researchers have successfully 3-D printed living algae to create a self-sustaining material that could have wide-ranging applications in everything from fashion to Mars colonization. The breakthrough was the result of a collaboration between the University of Rochester and Delft University of Technology and involved treating living microalgae like ink […]
In California, Orbillion Bio, a startup targeting lab-grown replacements for foodie cuts of meat like bison, elk and Wagyu beef, has raised $5 million. The oversubscribed seed funding round included At One Ventures, k16 ventures, and FoundersX Ventures. The funds will be used to build a pilot production unit to culture Wagyu beef, a highly […]
In Chicago, tennis giant Wilson has manufactured 422 rackets incorporating algae-based plastic and solvent-free coatings. Called the Naked series, each racket is priced at $499. Available models include the Blade 98 (16×19), Clash 100, Pro Staff 97 and Ultra 100. Wilson will also donate $20,000 to sustainable apparel brand tentree—so named because it plants ten […]
In California, classic skater sneaker brand Vans has committed to making 100% of its core materials regenerative, responsibly sourced, renewable or recycled by 2030. The company’s plans include piloting and scaling regenerative agriculture practices on farms and ranches that produce rubber, cotton, and leather; exploring biobased alternatives with lower carbon footprints than traditional petroleum-based synthetic […]
In California, synthetic biology firm Zymergen has raised $500 million in an initial public offering. Shares began trading Thursday on Nasdaq under the ticker ZY. The company sold 16.1 million shares at $31/share, giving it an enterprise value of $3.2 billion. The company had expected to sell 13.6 million shares for $28-$31/share. The company reported […]
In Poland, a Poznan-based startup has launched biodegradable coffee and tea cups that also contain tree seeds. The company, dubbed Picup, says its cups are the first for hot beverages that are 100% biodegradable and plantable. The leftover coffee grounds or tea leaves become a natural fertilizer for the heat-resistant seeds. Conventional disposable cups for […]
