In the Netherlands, biotech firm NoPalm Ingredients has signed an agreement with NIZO Food Research to set up a demonstration-scale factory for its fermentation-based oils process technology at NIZO’s Ede food innovation campus. The facility will be the first time NoPalm Ingredients will run its full processes for producing sustainable palm and other tropical oil […]
In Switzerland, Jungbunzlauer, a leader in sustainable ingredients from natural sources, has signed a binding and definitive agreement to acquire the multipurpose production site in Thomson, IL from International Flavors & Fragrances, Inc. “This acquisition is an important step in delivering on our strategic capacity expansion in North America,” said Bruno Tremblay, Chief Executive Officer […]
In South Carolina, Ingevity Corporation has signed a definitive agreement to sell its North Charleston crude tall oil refinery assets and the majority of its Performance Chemicals Industrial Specialties product line to Mainstream Pine Products, LLC. The all-cash transaction will result in net, after tax, proceeds at closing of approximately $110 million plus a potential […]
In Spain, flavor and fragrance giant Symrise has opened a pentylene glycol production facility in Granada. Trade named Hydrolite® 5 green, the additional capacity enables Symrise to meet rising global demand for the multifunctional cosmetics ingredient, which delivers improved skin hydration and hair fiber enhancement while allowing formulators to create a better sensorial profile and […]
In California, designer Sudeshna Naik has developed wooden earbuds that protect both the planet and the fidelity of your favorite jams. Dubbed The PIN, Naik envisioned the earbuds as a “bridge between high-performance audio and eco-luxury,” according to Yanko Design. The PIN uses only Forest Stewardship Council-certified wood, with three options for finishes: bamboo, cherry, […]
In China, researchers at South China Agricultural University have turned houseplants into night lights by injecting synthetic chemicals into living succulents. While the idea isn’t new—in the 1980s researchers in San Diego inserted a firefly gene into tobacco plants—Shuting Liu, a lab affiliate and the first author of the paper, injected the plants with phosphorescent […]
In New York, biobased leather startup Uncaged Innovations is working with Hyundai to use its biobased leather in automotive upholstery. Uncaged Innovations boasts a plant-based leather alternative that looks, feels and even smells like animal leather. Feedstocks include wheat, soy, and corn proteins that mimic the texture of animal hide proteins. The resulting material has […]
In the UK, cancer survivor and entrepreneur Jacqueline Shaw has created hair extensions out of biodegradable banana fiber. Sold by Shaw’s startup, The Canerow Company, the extensions are marketed for Black women and offer a safer and greener alternative to synthetic hair. A recent Consumer Reports investigation found that the 10 most popular synthetic braiding […]
In San Francisco, engineering lab Otherlab has created a mycelium airplane capable of delivering up to 2 lbs of aid, such as blood and vaccines, to remote regions before biodegrading. Resembling stealth fighters, the planes are a component of Otherlab’s APSARA (Aerial Platform Supporting Autonomous Resupply Actions) system, which leverages computational design to develop affordable […]
In the United Kingdom, cell culture company CellulaREvolution has wound down operations and is seeking buyers for its assets, having run out of funding. Spun out from Newcastle University in 2018, the company provided bottleneck-busting enzyme technologies for cultivated meat, regenerative medicine and vaccine sectors. “We couldn’t deliver commercial milestones fast enough to secure Series […]
