In London, a sustainable sequins start-up has achieved the world’s first fully biodegradable sequins produced at scale. Founded by Claire Lichfield during the pandemic as part of R&D project Bodici, Sequinova aims to help the fashion industry replace sequins, a source of microplastic waste, with a sustainable alternative. Sequinova’s cellulose-based sequins decompose in freshwater within […]
In France, designers Vivien Roussel, Madalina Nicolae, and Marc Teyssier have created a video game controller made from SCOBY, also known as Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeast. Dubbed BioHybrid, the controller is a proof of concept that envisions growing devices such as controllers, keyboards, and wearables, as opposed to assembling them. “By adopting biofabrication […]
In France, biobased indigo dye maker Pili has partnered with fashion brand Citizens of Humanity and Turkish denim producer Orta to bring greener jeans to market. Under the terms of the agreement, Citizens of Humanity will debut clothing made from Pili’s Eco-Indigo biobased indigo dye in 2025. “Our partnership with Pili represents a pivotal moment […]
In Sweden, an EU-funded project aims to combine precision fermentation, yeast biomass and fiber-producing microbes to achieve better-tasting vegan cheeses and kefir. The four-year Delicious Initiative is led by the Research Institutes of Sweden but includes 16 other research centers and corporations from nine countries. It will focus on semi-hard cheeses like Gruyère and Manchego, […]
In Germany, the Add Wood exhibition is showcasing the many potential applications for 3D-printed timber, including a coffin and a sofa. Each item in the exhibit was made using EconitWood, a material produced by Additive Tectonics from leftover wood from sawmills and timber harvesting, mixed with a biobased magnesium carbonate binder. Esmée Willemsen’s contribution was […]
In Connecticut, Curaleaf Holdings, Inc., a leading international provider of consumer cannabis products, has introduced Zero Proof 2.5 mg Hemp THC Seltzer just in time for those participating in the popular “Dry January” health trend. The delicious, “fast-acting beverage” is now available in 2.5 mg hemp THC, in addition to the 5 mg can, which […]
In Ireland, Nuritas, an AI-powered peptide discovery firm, has successfully closed an oversubscribed $42 million Series C funding round. The round was led by M&G Investments with participation from McWin Capital Partners, Grosvenor and ECBF. U2 rockers Bono and The Edge were among Nuritas’ early investors. Nuritas aims to bring to market previously inaccessible health-promoting […]
In Austria, researchers at the BOKU University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences are leading an EU-funded project to manufacture new materials from nutshell. The project, dubbed PUZZLE MATERIAL, is a successor to the SCATAPNUT initiative, a five-year research project that found that nut shells, like pistachio and walnut, contain cells with unique interlocking structures […]
In South Korea, designer Hyunbin Kim has created a music box made out of used coffee grounds. Dubbed Snowie, the holiday-themed music box features a base made out of the compostable waste material, as well as an aluminum top and hat spring that serves as a winding mechanism. Once inserted and wound, Snowie plays Christmas […]
In New Zealand, a design student at Auckland University of Technology has won a design award for biodegradable shoelaces made from an underutilized wool. Jacob Smith’s “Woo-Lace” received the Silver Best Award for a Student & Academic Product in 2024. “The idea came about in an Auckland University of Technology project during my second year […]
