In Germany, outdoor brand VAUDE has partnered with BASF to unveil the TRAILCONTROL ZERO 20+, the first bike backpack made using Ultramid® ZeroPCF, a polyamide 6 with biobased, mass-balanced material. The biobased content comes from used cooking oil. The carbon footprint of the material is further reduced by BASF’s use of the Hollandse Kust Zuid […]
In France, biobased carboxylic acids firm Afyren reports its first facility has achieved continuous production. The Carling Saint-Avold, France fermentation plant is owned by the Afyren Neoxy joint venture between Afyren and Bpifrance’s SPI Fund. It manufactures several biobased acids for a number of markets, including cosmetics, food, and lubricants. “The transition to continuous production […]
In France, foodtech startup Fungu’it has raised €4 million (US$4.6 million) to build a pilot plant to demonstrate its solid-state, fungi-fermentation platform for producing natural flavorings. The company uses filamentous fungi to upcycle agricultural by-products, including flaxseed, sunflower press cakes, and legumes, natural flavorings. Through solid-state fermentation, these waste are converted into high-value ingredients with […]
In Finland, tire materials innovator Black Donuts has launched InTire Labs, a collaborative R&D hub focused on developing sustainable, biobased materials for tire manufacturing. The new center aims to replace fossil-derived compounds with renewable, recyclable, and biodegradable alternatives, targeting a reduction in microplastic emissions from tire wear. Equipped with advanced testing and pilot-scale production tools, […]
In London, Shellworks has launched a fully home-compostable pipette dropper for beauty and wellness product packaging. Pipette droppers used for serums, oils, and wellness products are typically constructed from fused materials including glass, rubber, and plastic, presenting a sustainability challenge in the beauty industry. Their small size means they slip through recycling equipment, causing nearly […]
In Pennsylvania, Ethan Albright, a Hempfield High teen and fishing enthusiast, has won third place at the recent International Science and Engineering Fair with biodegradable fishing lures. Made from calcium lactate, gelatin, corn starch, and sodium alginate, Albright’s lures biodegrade in about 16 days and are intended to cut down on plastics waste found in […]
In the UK, London’s Design Museum has awarded designer Lulu Harrison the Ralph Saltzman Prize for glass objects made from waste shells, wood and plants sourced from the River Thames. The materials – in particular, quagga mussels shells that block the river’s pipes – are often sent to landfills, according to design publication dezeen. Harrison […]
In London, Sheep Inc. claims it has designed the world’s first swim trunks made entirely of natural materials. “Simply put: swim shorts until now have always relied on synthetic elements, either in the main fabric, the lining or both,” Sheep Inc co-founder Michael Wessely tells design publication Dezeen. “Even many ‘sustainable’ options use recycled polyester […]
In Italy, an interdisciplinary group of architects, scientists, artists, and educators focused on regenerative design are exhibiting living, 3D-printed abstract structures imbued with cyanobacteria. The Canada-based group, called the Living Room Collective, dubbed the exhibit Picoplanktonics. The installation at Venice Architecture Biennale, currently underway in Venice, is meant to explore the biological “definition” of regeneration. […]
In Japan, Sumitomo Chemical has successfully developed technology to produce liquid crystal polymer from a monomer derived from biomass materials. LCP is a type of engineering plastic with high heat and fire resistance. It is used electric and electronic components in smartphones, automotive parts, and office automation equipment. Sumitomo’s process also completely separates biomass materials […]
