In Germany, bioengineered yarns produced by biotech firm AMSilk GmbH have been featured in commercially available garments from Balenciaga’s Spring 2026 collection. The designs include a sharp-collared white shirt and a black shirtdress that cinches at the waist with a ribbon tie, complete with an embroidered tone-on-tone Balenciaga logo on one “gleaming-buttoned cuff.” Each style […]
In China, a team of researchers at Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology have created a textile out of mycelium that can almost repair itself. Unlike previous mushroom-based textiles that grew mycelium but killed it to stop growth, the Shenzhen team used dormant cordyceps militaris. This created a material that self-renews. The team also showed that they […]
In France, designer Germain Verbrackel has come up with a cork stool that doubles as a mobile brainstorming kit. Called The Bulb, the lightweight seat has a built-in compartment for markers, sticky notes, papers and notebooks, allowing teams to take their creative supplies wherever they decide to work. The opening also serves as a handle, […]
In South Korea, Chilgok County has created a plant-based leather alternative from discarded melon peels, with the aim of boosting farm incomes and local economy. Located in North Gyeongsang Province, Chilgok County began researching the material in 2024, after low-quality and unsold melons frequently ended up in the Nakdong River. Researchers initially experimented with drying […]
In New York, biotech fats developer C16 Biosciences has launched a precision-fermented cocoa butter. The natural fat is an essential ingredient in all types of chocolate, but the functional performance of traditionally produced cocoa butter is inconsistent. It is also subject to severe supply and price volatility. C16’s process uses aerobic precision fermentation and adaptive […]
In Japan, Mitsui Chemicals has announced a minority investment in bioplastics developer Materia Bioworks. Based in Ontario, Materia uses computational chemistry and AI to efficiently design and formulate sustainable materials, including bioplastics. The company’s Material Application Prediction System formulates and designs materials to meet target performance specifications, including thermal, mechanical, permeability and physical properties. AI […]
In Chicago, agribusiness giant ADM has invested more than $16 million in its Boone County, Kentucky facility to significantly expand production capacity for its Colors From Nature™ portfolio of naturally derived color solutions. ADM’s naturally derived color capabilities include proprietary products and technologies that help customers solve the complex formulation challenges related to natural color […]
In Boston, Ginkgo Bioworks and Acies Bio have partnered to accelerate the development and commercial production of proteins and enzymes using an engineered strain of Aspergillus niger, a food-safe fungus widely used in industry. Ginkgo has engineered the microbe to improve its performance in large-scale fermentation, including making it easier and less costly to grow, […]
In China, 3D printer filament manufacturer eSUN has launched PLA-Coffee, a filament made by incorporating dehydrated used coffee grounds into the bioplastic polylactic acid. According to coffee, cocoa, and tea trade magazine Comunicaffe International, the filament is trade named PLA-Coffee. In addition to a lower carbon footprint, PLA-Coffee also improves the visual quality of Fused […]
In the Netherlands, Keller Kitchens has won the prestigious Red Dot Design Award for its enduura® elba kitchen cabinet system, which uses biobased chipboard made with a tannin-based binder that is derived from tree bark and produced without added formaldehyde. The surface layer also incorporates renewable resources, with melamine resin produced largely using Dutch biogas. […]
