In Scotland, biobased building materials startup Hemspan is building a £4 million (US$5.4 million) production facility at Rochford, Essex that will create 100 jobs over the next three years. Hemspan’s main offering is the BIOHAUS® system, a prefabricated, panelized building system that combines hemp insulation, hemp-based boards and structural timber to create energy-efficient, lower-carbon buildings. […]
In Japan, Green Science Alliance has developed a plant-based gel nail polish formulated without trimethylbenzoyl diphenylphosphine oxide or 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA), two ingredients commonly used in gel nail formulations. TPO is a photopolymerization initiator that enables gel nail polish to cure under LED or UV light. While TPO is not subject to cosmetic ingredient restrictions […]
In the Netherlands, Queen Máxima visited the country’s far east province to learn about biobased construction materials, even getting hands on with the farm work despite her posh outfit. Known for her work in financial inclusion and economic development, the senior royal drove a tractor and took part in harvesting and baling of hemp fiber that […]
In California, the maker of multipurpose maintenance spray and DIY mainstay WD-40 has unveiled a biobased formulation. WD-40 Company Limited, which calls the new product WD-40 Specialist Bio Lubricant Multi-Use, said the product is 85% biobased and meets EU Ecolabel standards. The biobased version is designed to maintain the original’s performance in penetrating, lubricating, and protecting […]
In China, Covation Biomaterials has successfully produced its first series of commercial, on-spec batches of biobased tetrahydrofuran and polytetramethylene ether glycol, which are sold under the trade names Xatryx.T bioTHF and Xatryx® bioPTMEG, respectively. The 50,000 metric ton per year plant at Qidong was completed in April 2026. “Rigorous internal quality control testing” found that […]
In the US, Symrise AG has signed a definitive agreement to sell AmeriTerpenes LLC, its terpene ingredients business, to international private equity investor Mutares SE & Co. KGaA. The deal will sharpen Symrise’s focus on core growth platforms and positions AmeriTerpenes to further develop its renewable terpene ingredient portfolio for fragrance, flavor, and industrial applications […]
In South Korea, researchers at World Institute of Kimchi have converted kimchi radish waste into a bioplastic. Specifically, the team used an E. coli bacteria with the ability to convert certain chemicals in kimchi-processing leftovers into a bioplastic. The research used advanced modeling to streamline the development of low-waste manufacturing processes. By integrating biological data […]
In Denmark, Novonesis will invest €600 million ($696 million) to expand its facility in Patalganga, India and build one of the world’s most advanced enzyme production facilities to meet rising global demand for biosolutions. The Patalganga expansion, which is expected to be fully operational in 2030, will produce enzymes for a broad range of industries, […]
In Japan, Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation has announced that its plant-derived engineering plastic DURABIO™ has been adopted for use in the compact cases for Excia Eye Color Volonte, a premium eyeshadow from Japanese cosmetics company Albion. By combining DURABIO with other transparent resins and injection molding them, a “beautiful texture reminiscent of natural seashells is achieved,” […]
In the Netherlands, the Deterra® Drug Disposal Pouch from Accredo Packaging has won several packaging awards for its use of Braskem’s 50% or more I’m green™ biobased polymer. Developed by Verde Technologies, the pouch is designed to deactivate unused medications, preventing drug diversion and mitigating the risk of pharmaceuticals leaching into groundwater and waterways. The […]
