In the United Kingdom, acoustic panels made from hemp and mycelium were used in the ceiling of a dance music tent at the recent Glastonbury music festival. The panels were developed by British DJ Floating Points and Magical Mushroom Company. Hung from the domed ceiling of the “Sunflower Sound System,” the panels reduced echo, reverberation […]
In New York, beverage company Yerba Madre and design studio Basura have partnered to create shoes out of dirt, organic fibers, and acacia gum that disintegrate and spread flower seeds as the person wearing then walks. The designers readily admit the clog-like Dirt Shoe will only last a few minutes, so you probably shouldn’t throw […]
In Germany, researchers at Hof University of Applied Sciences are working with the RuhBio research project to create biobased nonwoven materials for noise protection in rail transport. “Up to now, soundproofing components in rail transport have mostly been made of conventional foams or polyester fleeces. While functionally proven, these materials are neither biobased nor biodegradable,” […]
In Amsterdam, renewable polymer producer Avantium has secured a €10-million financing to address its short-term liquidity needs. The transaction includes access to the second tranche of €4 million under the €9.9-million subordinated loan from the Province of Groningen, as well as a €6-million drawdown from the €20.1 million increase of the senior debt financing facilities […]
In Finland, a documentary film detailing the process of making the Korvaa concept shoe out of mycelium, bacterial nanocellulose, and biodegradable plastics, will be shown at a major – but undisclosed – film festival later this year. Dubbed Planet of the Microbes, the film was shot by Finland-based Photino Science Communications. The shoe itself – […]
In China and Australia, researchers have developed a new bioplastic that could make buildings more reflective, reducing the indoor temperature without consuming any energy. The material is the commonly used bioplastic polylactic acid, but produced using a low-temperature separation technique that renders the material very reflective. According to IFLScience, when used as a film, the […]
In Belgium, designer Björn Van Egroo has conceptualized a biodegradable alternative for packaging Nintendo’s latest Switch system. The design was created from a 3D rendering and did not include any input or invitation from the Kyoto video game and console maker. Despite this, Yanko Design called it game-changing. “You don’t need to mold plastic blister […]
In Nepal, four former British special forces soldiers were outfitted with bioplastic sunglasses from Teysha Technologies as they set a mountaineering record for traveling from the UK to the summit of Everest and back again in under 7 days. The Mission: Everest team was comprised of Kevin Godlington, Veterans Minister Colonel Al Carns, Major Garth […]
In Texas, a startup has introduced a new diaper concept that aims to address one of the biggest challenges parents face: balancing sustainability with convenience. Based in Austin, Hiro Technologies tells Reuters parents simply add a packet of its fungi to the used MycoDigestible Diaper. The moisture-activated fungi begins eating the diaper after a few […]
In California, sustainable material firm von Holzhausen has made a 100% biodegradable and plastic-free shoe from Liquidplant™, a polyurethane-like material developed in house out of sugar and seeds. von Holzhausen said the Ripple Shoe “is more than a product. It’s the first case study in a new strategic direction for von Holzhausen. A broader rollout […]
