Author Archive: Rebecca Gendron

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Time for the steak harvest? Molecular farming looks to produce animal proteins in plants

Time for the steak harvest? Molecular farming looks to produce animal proteins in plants

November 16, 2020 |

In the United Kingdom, Moolec Science is looking to “molecular farm” by coaxing crops to create animal proteins. The company believes that by leveraging the scale of agriculture, the company can create meat more effectively than emerging cultured meat processes.  “Molecular farming is not yet a fully explored technology in the alternative protein space,” says  […]

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Seed-spreading firecrackers launched for Diwali

Seed-spreading firecrackers launched for Diwali

November 16, 2020 |

In India, a push for eco-friendly firecrackers for the Hindu Diwali celebration has led one pyrotechnics company to develop firecrackers that have the potential to grow plants after the festival has ended. Vadivel Pyrotechs Private Limited says the Seedstar Firecrackers are made from vermicompost-treated paper, clay and heat-resistant seeds.  After the firecracker is spent, the […]

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From plate to plant: Colombian company sells pineapple-growing tableware

From plate to plant: Colombian company sells pineapple-growing tableware

November 16, 2020 |

In Colombia, a disposable tableware company is creating life out of waste by selling plantable plates with embedded seeds.  More specifically, Lifepack is producing plates made from pineapple waste that can be added to soil and grow into pineapple plants.  “We are using agricultural residues that people were just throwing away, and we are transforming […]

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Edible straw maker lands smoothie franchise

Edible straw maker lands smoothie franchise

November 16, 2020 |

In the US, edible straw maker SORBOS has landed its first restaurant franchise deal. Tropical Smoothie Café will use the straws for a limited time, beginning November 11.   The 100% flavored and biodegradable plastic straw alternative is made of sugar, water, cornstarch and gelatine and stays rigid for 40 minutes in cold and frozen […]

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Carlo Ratti Associati rewrites pen design with compostable materials, edible ink

Carlo Ratti Associati rewrites pen design with compostable materials, edible ink

November 16, 2020 |

In Italy, design firm Carlo Ratti Associati has created an ecofriendly pen complete with compostable materials and edible ink.  The pen, developed for tech company Scribit, has a barrel made from wood, recycled aluminum, or biodegradable PHB plastic. The nib and ink cartridges are made from natural fibers, while the ink is water-based with organic […]

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Boston team creates tableware that biodegrades in 60 days

Boston team creates tableware that biodegrades in 60 days

November 16, 2020 |

In Boston, a team of Northeastern researchers have developed single-use tableware from bamboo and sugar waste that biodegrades in just 60 days.  Hongli Zhu, an assistant professor at Northeastern University, tells Fast Company she wanted to pursue biodegradable products after coming to the United States in 2007 and seeing how much single-use plastic waste was […]

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Cucumber peels found to be good feedstock for food packaging polymers

Cucumber peels found to be good feedstock for food packaging polymers

November 16, 2020 |

In India, researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur have converted cucumber peels into cellulose nanocrystals with the potential to be used in food packaging.  Prof. Jayeeta Mitra and N. Sai Prasanna tell EET India that their high-cellulose material overcomes the strength, elongation, and barrier and optical property shortfalls of other biopolymers. “Our […]

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Berkeley Bandit: Sportscar that never was returns with a biobased twist

Berkeley Bandit: Sportscar that never was returns with a biobased twist

November 9, 2020 |

In the United Kingdom, a short-lived sportscar whose cost of design was the death knell for its maker more than 60 years ago is being resurrected as an electric vehicle with renewable components. According to the Robb Report, minor automaker Berkeley Cars had expected the Bandit to turn it into a household sportscar name, but […]

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Trail report: Reviews roll in for algae-based skis

Trail report: Reviews roll in for algae-based skis

November 9, 2020 |

In California, newly launched skis with an algae-based core are getting rave performance reviews among avid shredders. The 4FRONT line of skis, made by WNDR Alpine using Algal-Tech material manufactured by Checkerspot, include backcountry ski Intention 100 and Vital 100 for traditional resort skiing. The Algal-Tech core is designed to be lightweight while improving stiffness […]

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Startup claims “beyond sustainable” model in increasingly crowded eco-friendly sneaker category

Startup claims “beyond sustainable” model in increasingly crowded eco-friendly sneaker category

November 9, 2020 |

In New York, startup Thousand Fell has stepped into the eco-friendly sneaker fray with a 100% recyclable shoe that boasts numerous renewable components, including aloe vera, coconut husks, sugarcane and palm leaf fibers. A biobased resin for corn waste is used as coating, and the foam cushion is made from castor bean oil. Other materials […]

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