In San Diego, performance recovery brand NAMU has launched SL01, a recovery slide made from Algenesis Labs’ biobased Soleic-brand polyurethane. NAMU calls it the recovery sandal “engineered for both performance and environmental responsibility.” The slide features NAMU’s Recovery Arch Support System, which is designed to ensure proper foot alignment and function with every step. “Soleic® […]
In Spain, the Plastics Technology Centre AIMPLAS has launched the SOLRESS project, a four‑year initiative to turn post‑consumer coffee grounds and lignocellulosic biomass into five renewable industrial solvents. Backed by €7 million (US$7.7 million) from the Circular Bio‑based Europe Joint Undertaking, the project aims to replace fossil‑derived raw materials with biobased alternatives that meet industrial […]
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 […]
