In Finland, researchers from VTT and Aalto University are applying origami, the ancient Japanese art of paper folding, to the plastics waste crisis. Led by Jarmo Kouko, the group has created a machine that automates folding in ways that reinforce paperboard, allowing the biodegradable material to be used in delicate or complex packaging applications where […]
In Serbia, bark-based packaging startup Bpacks has raised €1 million (US$1.05 million) in pre-seed funding. According to Tech Funding News, the funds will help Bpacks establish a manufacturing facility in Spain by 2025, scale production of bark-based pellets, and enhance research and development capabilities in Belgrade. The company aims to expand into the U.S. market […]
In Austria, The Lenzing Group has licensed its biobased acetic acid process to C.P.L. Prodotti Chimici srl for use in textile dying. Under the terms of the deal, Lenzing’s biobased acetic acid, which is a byproduct of pulp production, will be utilized by Oniverse, the parent company of the popular fashion brand Calzedonia, for dyeing […]
In London, design publication dezeen has included several biobased products in its annual list of most innovative materials. “The realities of climate change have driven another big year in material innovation in 2024,” according to the publication. Winners include Christien Meindertsma, who has created Flaxwood tiles for brand Dzek, and design collective Nawa’s RePit, which […]
In Wisconsin, Sativa Building Systems has been awarded a $1.9 million contract by the U.S. Army to develop biobased insulation. The two-year Phase II Small Business Innovation Research project builds on SBS’ previous successes with hemp-based solutions that align with the Department of Defense’s sustainability objectives. “Our Z Panel hempcrete block panel was a major […]
In the United Arab Emirates, Sulzer has licensed its biobased polylactic acid technology to Emirates Biotech, which plans to break ground on a production plant in 2025. The facility will be developed in two phases, each with a capacity of 80,000 metric tons of PLA per year. The first phase is anticipated to be operational […]
In Germany, engineering materials firm Envalior and Union Binding Company have partnered to introduce redesigned Travis Rice Falcor Signature Snowboard Bindings featuring Envalior’s Durethan Blue, an eco-friendly nylon made from 90% biobased and recyclable raw materials. Durethan Blue is crafted using a mass balance approach, ensuring that materials are sustainably sourced and traceable throughout the […]
In Tokyo, an exhibit at the 21_21 Design Sight gallery wants to flush away preconceived notions and illustrate how humanity can create materials from excrement. Made by artist Koro Ihara, Pooploop consists of animal poop sculptures coated with urishi lacquer, including a recreation of the ubiquitous poop emoji. The exhibit also includes nearly 200 types […]
In Miami, luxury carmaker Lexus and design studio Crafting Plastics have created a 3D printed, bioplastic car sculpture that changes color in response to changes in the environment, such as UV radiation and viewer proximity. Dubbed Liminal Cycles, the sculpture also expands and contracts “as if it were breathing, visualizing the relationship between technology and […]
In Israel, Aleph Farms has submitted its first regulatory application for cultivated meat in Thailand. This application, filed in collaboration with Thai Union, aims to introduce Aleph’s Aleph Cuts cultivated beef steaks into the Thai market. “Thailand is positioning itself as a leader in novel foods, fostering a transition toward sustainable food systems,” Didier Toubia, […]
