In the US, Solar Foods has submitted a Generally Recognized as Safe notification to the United States Food and Drug Administration. The company aims to obtain a no questions letter for its alternative protein’s safety assessment. Dubbed Solein, the protein is made by a specific microbe, which undergoes fermentation with air and electricity. The “nutritionally […]
In France, specialty chemical maker Arkema has partnered with Catalyxx to develop a new value chain for low-carbon, biobased acrylic resins. Catalyxx is planning to build a first-of-its-kind industrial facility to produce bio-alcohols, including bio n-butanol, from bioethanol. These biobased alcohols, based on a patented technology validated at a demonstration plant in Seville, Spain, offer […]
In California, artificial Christmas tree maker Balsam Brands will launch a new line of trees for 2025’s holiday season that use needles made of 95% biobased ethylene. Dubbed BH Balsam ReNew fir, the biobased content comes from sugarcane. “While our trees have always been reusable, these advances are a game-changer for the Christmas tree industry,” […]
In California, an artist and “mycologist” has crossed 26 miles of ocean in a kayak made of mycelium, the root system of mushrooms. Sam Shoemaker made the record-setting, twelve-hour journey from Catalina Island to San Pedro in August, persevering amid seasickness and curiosity from a fin whale. “It was just like a psychedelic experience,” Shoemaker […]
In Canada, Mount Pleasant Group’s Meadowvale Cemetery, Funeral and Cremation Centres have become the first in Canada to offer the Loop Living Cocoon and Loop EarthRise mushroom-based burial products. Developed by Dutch company Loop Biotech, Loop Living Cocoon and Loop EarthRise “represent a new era in sustainable end-of-life care,” according to a press statement. “They […]
In Colorado, plastic clog maker Crocs is using algae-based ink from Living Ink Technologies in its Jibbitz shoe charm packaging. To date, the ink has been used by EcoEnclose, Crocs’ packaging partner, in over 3 million cartons. It is the first commercial use of Living Ink Technologies’ ink in a full CMYK print run. “When […]
In the Netherlands, Mevaldi B.V. has successfully closed a funding round with High-Tech Gründerfonds and ICIG Ventures, the investment arm of International Chemical Investors Group. Founded in 2020, Mevaldi is pioneering a bio-thermocatalytic process to produce 3-methyl-1,5-pentanediol—a versatile chemical used in coatings, adhesives, and elastomers. The investment, which includes both equity and a working capital […]
In Michigan, Ecovia-Bio has commissioned a new facility for biobased production of polyglutamic acid and its derivatives. PGA is often described as nature’s thickener. It is suitable for cosmetics, agriculture, and even as a replacement for synthetic polyacrylates in diapers. Many regions of the world are banning the use of synthetic polyacrylates in some applications […]
In France, flavor and fragrance giant IFF has inaugurated a €10 million (US$11.7 million) expansion at its LMR Naturals site in Grasse. The facility develops natural ingredients for perfumers. The expansion increases the facility’s footprint by 75% and includes a state-of-the-art pilot hall designed to accelerate the development of new natural ingredients. The upgraded site […]
In Colorado, Cascade Bio has secured $6 million to expand production of biocatalysts that cut costs and unlock biobased production. The funding includes a $2.8M seed round led by Endurance28 with participation from Stray Dog Capital, 1Flourish, Range Ventures, 10VC, and Amplify, as well as $3.2 million in nondilutive funding from the U.S. National Science […]
