In the United Kingdom, designer Saskia Boersma, the Surface Matter collective, and the material studio Plasticiet have transformed £2.5 million (US$3.5 million) worth of withdrawn British banknotes into furniture. Dubbed Reconstructing Value, the material was made by combining shredded banknotes with a plasticizer. Physically, the benches maintain glimpses of “iconic hues and subtle security patterns of the original […]
In Milan, popular athleisure brand Under Armour has partnered with UNLESS, a company known for producing completely renewable garments, to market three completely plant-based sneakers. The launch marks the first time UNLESS footwear will be accessible through Under Armour. “In an industry where most footwear relies on plastics, petrochemicals, and synthetic dyes that linger in […]
In Finland, Solar Foods has filed a patent application for a mayonnaise formulation made using its Solein protein, which is produced by a microbe from just air and electricity. Traditionally, mayonnaise is produced through emulsification of oil. In traditional mayonnaise, this is done with the help of egg yolk, which acts as a natural emulsifier […]
In Finland, a team of researchers from University of Turku, Aalto University and Wageningen University has demonstrated red onion skins can extend the lifespan of solar panels. Biodegradable films made from a mixture of nanocellulose and red onion skin extract protected solar panels from damaging ultraviolet light. The new film outperformed traditional polyethylene terephthalate films […]
In Australia, sleepwear brand Papinelle is using seaweed-based bioplastic buttons from Uluu. Based in Perth, Uluu is a biotech company that ferments seaweed to create polyhydroxyalkanoates, a well-known bioplastic. The deal marks the first time Uluu’s material has been used in fashion. “These buttons may be small, but they represent a major leap in how […]
In New York, Better & Better, a natural brand known for its vitamin-infused toothpastes, has introduced the world’s first biodegradable Bamboo Sonic Flosser. Delivering up to 14,000 vibrations per minute, the flosser is “thoughtfully designed” with biodegradable bamboo heads and castor bean oil floss. It is waterproof, powered by a long-lasting battery that holds up […]
In the United Kingdom, artificial intelligence-based enzyme developer Scindo has raised £4 million (US$5.4 million) to expand its discovery engine, scale its wet-lab abilities, and add staff. Founded in 2020, the company’s platform uses AI and proprietary data to engineer enzymes that convert renewable materials into high-value, biobased ingredients and enable efficient, sustainable production of […]
In Perth, Integrity BioChem has partnered with ICD BioChem, a newly formed company in the ICD Group of companies, that will bring Integrity BioChem’s biobased mining technology platform to the rapidly growing Australian mining market. ICD BioChem, with operational and technical support from Integrity BioChem, is building a biobased chemical manufacturing facility in Perth that […]
In South Africa, Prince William rocked biobased sneakers at the annual award ceremony for his Earthshot Prize competition. Several well-known brands, including Allbirds and Cariuma, tout the renewable content of their sneakers, although the Manila Times report did not provide more details on the Prince’s footwear. The Prince of Wales launched the Earthshot Prize in […]
In Japan, AirKamuy Inc. has unveiled a biodegradable, cardboard-based drone at the DSEI 2025 trade show. The AirKamuy 150 is a fixed-wing drone constructed from cardboard and biobased adhesives. Costing under $3,000 each, and with a flight time of 1-2.5 hours, potential applications include reconnaissance, logistics, training, and threat simulation. It can also be assembled […]
