In Japan, Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd. and Mitsubishi Electric Corporation are collaborating to use biomass-based plastics in home appliances. Under the terms of the agreement, Idemitsu Kosan will produce biomass chemicals using the mass balance method, and Mitsubishi Electric will use the bioplastics in home appliances such as air conditioners and refrigerators. The plastics are […]
In the Netherlands, cultivated meat company Meatable and animal-free leather producer Pelagen have partnered to improve the efficiency and scalability of producing skin tissue from animal cells. Specifically, the two companies will develop optimized media and processes to lower cost, enhance speed and efficiency, and increase quality of animal-free leather. The agreement marks a milestone […]
In the United Kingdom, bioplastics company Biome Technologies PLC announced on February 21 that it will remove itself from the AIM, a sub-market of the London Stock Exchange, due to costs and a need to raise equity. According to Alliance News, Biome shares were down 62% following the announcement. A general meeting of shareholders has […]
In London, sustainable clothing brand Volleback has made a jacket prototype out of American walnut wood. The brand hopes the jacket will show that wood has the potential to be a viable option for manufacturing clothes. “Wood is one of the most abundant building materials on the planet and it has been since the beginning of […]
In Finland, oil company Neste has announced a performance improvement program that includes deemphasizing renewable chemicals. The company cites a significantly changed market environment and weakened financial performance for the strategic shift. “Our current financial performance is weak and not sustainable,” said Neste’s President and CEO Heikki Malinen in a press statement. “Therefore, we must […]
In Baton Rouge, a team at Louisiana State University is hoping to scale production of biodegradable, seed-infused Mardi Gras beads to make the state’s decadent “Fat Tuesday” celebrations more sustainable. Graduate student Alexis Strain told WBRZ that biodegradable Mardi Gras beads have been an ongoing project at the university since 2016, and in 2024, the […]
In Germany, mountaineering equipment firm Edelrid has introduced climbing rope made from castor oil. Birdlime 1R 9.8 climbing rope uses polyamide-11 made from castor oil in a process that dates back 80 years. However, the company acknowledges that it is more expensive than petrochemically produced polyamide-6, the traditional material for climbing rope. The biobased rope […]
In Colorado, popular skater shoe band Vans has debuted a premium “Old Skool” collection that features biobased materials. First released in 1977, Vans’ Old Skool design, also known as Style 36, would go on to be one of the brand’s most iconic skate shoes and was the first to feature its distinctive Sidestripe™. The first […]
In South Korea, LG Chem has begun producing 100% biobased acrylic acid and expects to ramp up to prototype production of 100 metric tons of material annually in the second quarter of this year. LG Chem’s biobased acrylic acid is made from 3-hydroxypropionic acid, produced by microbial fermentation of plant-based raw materials. The product retains […]
In Pennsylvania, Parcel Health has developed 100% recyclable, paper-based prescription bottles. Dubbed Tully Tubes, the bottles are certified by the US FDA for use in food and medicine. Apart from the child-resistant cap—required for safety purposes—the bottles are made from sustainably sourced paper. The triple-layered bottles are also resistant to water, humidity and heat to […]
