In New York, preppy fashion brand Ralph Lauren is investing in Natural Fiber Welding, a Peoria-Illinois-based startup developing a process to upcycle waste natural fibers into higher-performing materials. Founded in 2015, Natural Fiber Welding uses “precise manipulation of molecular bonding” to upgrade the performance of waste cotton and recycled fibers. Founder and CEO Luke Haverhals, […]
In Texas, researchers at Texas A&M University have created a stronger carbon-fiber composite by incorporating recycled wood waste. The newly discovered material overcomes a persistent challenge with such composites and be a gamechanger for creating stronger, lighter materials, researchers say. Polymers reinforced by carbon fibers are strong but also lightweight, and for that reason can […]
In New York, mushroom packaging firm Ecovative Design is seeing increased demand from beauty brands seeking to reduce their plastics use amid consumer environmental concerns. “Mushrooms are nature’s recycling system,” Gavin McIntyre, co-founder of Ecovative Design, tells Vogue. “They’re decomposers. Mycelium grows really quickly and for the industrial process, [we’re able to grow it] in […]
In India, a Hyderabad radio station is promoting its Ramky Big Green Ganesha initiative aimed at promoting the use of Ganesh idols made of natural materials and seeds at the upcoming Vinayaka Chaturthi festival. Launched by BIG FM in 2008, the program is distributing clay Ganesh idols packed in biodegradable coconut pit. Each will contain […]
In California, Lygos (Berkeley, California) has validated a fermentation-based production process for cannabinoids. Using technology gained from Lygos’s January acquisition of Librede, the company was able to produce both cannabinoid compounds not easily produced via traditional agriculture and common cannabinoids, such as CBD. Lygos says it will now focus on scaling the process to commercial […]
In California, The Ranch Companies, a diversified cannabis startup founded by Mike Tyson, has acquired a global license to printable beverage ingredient technology developed by California’s Smart Cups to produce cannabis beverages. The licensed technology uses printable, micro-encapsulation to embed active and flavor ingredients directly into a bioplastic cup, reducing shipping weights end environmental footprint. […]
In California, start-up Mission Barns is looking for 100 bacon lovers to do curbside taste tests of its lab-grown meat. The taste tests will be held this month at San Francisco’s Cockscomb eatery and an unnamed Oakland restaurant. The company says interested “bacon lovers, experts, and aficionados” can sign up on its website. “We definitely […]
In California, fast-casual burrito mainstay Chipotle has launched a line of apparel made using avocado pits from its guacamole supply chain. Dubbed Chipotle Goods, the company says the pits are simmered in water to produce a plant-based dye for organic cotton goods. Each item requires five pits—the equivalent of five orders of guacamole. Proceeds will […]
In Malaysia, researchers at Universiti Putra Malaysian are using natural fibers made of pineapple leaves for drone frames. The pineapple leaf material has a higher strength to weight ratio compared to plastic and is cheaper than traditional drone frame materials. It also makes the drone partially biodegradable, in case it becomes lost to the user […]
In Canada, the government has invested in producing biodegradable face mask filters to help curb the spread of COVID-19. Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources, the Honourable Seamus O’Regan, has announced a $1.3 million investment in FPInnovations, a non-profit R&D private organization spanning the pulp and paper industry, forest operations, wood products, and bio-sourced products, to […]
