In Sweden, fast-fashion major H&M has launched a new collection featuring vegan leather made from prickly pear cactus. H&M says the material is similar to conventional leather, requires little water to produce, and is free of undesirable chemicals such as phthalates and polyvinyl chloride. Dubbed Desserto, the material was invented in 2019 by Adrian Lopez […]
In Chicago, the first index of publicly traded plant-based stocks has been launched. Dubbed the Global Vegan Impact and Innovation Index, or VegTech, the Dow Jones-type index includes 21 global, publicly traded companies actively innovating to remove animals from the supply chain. Inclusion criteria is strict. The company needs to be working, intentionally or not, […]
In New York, popular burger chain Shake Shack is trialing the use of bioplastic straws and utensils at a handful of its 310 stores. Nation’s Restaurant News says the biodegradable, polyhydroxybutyrate service ware items are already being used at locations in West Hollywood and Long Beach, California; Madison Square Park and West Village, New York […]
In Connecticut, Nanalyze has compiled a list of lab-grown meat companies pursuing exotic foods. The media and research firm aims to educate its readers about startups going beyond consumer mainstays such as chicken nuggets and ground beef. First on the list, and arguably the weirdest, is the human meat steak Philadelphia artist and professor […]
In London, startup Hoxton Farms is working to cultivate animal fat to help make plant-based meat alternatives taste more like the real thing. Currently, many plant-based meats use plant oils, which are often bad for the environment and often are the reason the taste of faux meat falls short. “Nobody wants a burger that tastes […]
In Mexico, designer Moisés Hernández has replaced synthetic dyes in his chairs with those made from ground-up insects. Hernández tells dezeen he makes the dyes for his Grana chairs by soaking them in a slurry of water and crushed cochineal bugs. The process has been used to dye fabrics in Mexico for centuries. He […]
In Illinois, climbing gear brand So iLL has partnered with Aquaman star Jason Momoa to launch sneakers made from algae and other biodegradable materials, including cotton and cork. The $109.00, limited-edition kicks are part of the brand’s On the Roam collection and are available for preorder on So iLL’s site. An algae material is used […]
In the United Kingdom, barristers will now have the option of using vegan hemp wigs instead of traditional horsehair as they debate the merits of their respective cases. Samuel March, a young, vegan barrister, created first unveiled his new wig on social media. “The prototype has arrived. This is the world’s first hemp barrister’s wig. […]
In San Francisco, popular sustainability-focused shoe brand Allbirds has invested $2 million in Natural Fiber Welding to advance development of plant-based leather alternatives. Founded by Luke Haverhals, Illinois-based Natural Fiber Welding’s first product is Mirum, a leather alternative made from minerals and natural plant-sourced materials such as cork and coconut coir fiber. “Humanity’s dependence on […]
In North Carolina, Bear Fiber has created socks from hemp for a prototype project meant to demonstrate that “Hemp Makes it Better.” In partnership with expert knitters at the Catawba Valley Community College’s Manufacturing Solutions Center in Conover, Bear Fiber has developed in a method that creates a “stronger, cotton-like hemp fiber” so you can […]
