In India, Barracuda Technologies Pvt. Ltd., a subsidiary of San Francisco-based startup Barracuda Technologies Inc., has completed its first modular biorefinery project. The semi-commercial scale facility uses a proprietary biomass fractionation process to convert agricultural waste, including rice straw, wheat straw, banana stems, bagasse, Palm EFB, Brachiaria (Brazil), and hemp, into materials like lignin, cellulose, […]
In the Netherlands, Wageningen University has begun a project to advance sustainable fuel production using algae. Dubbed SUN-PERFORM, the project uses synthetic biology and nanotechnology to enhance algae’s light-capturing efficiency for photosynthesis. The project has been granted €4 million (US$4.5 million) from Horizon Europe, a €93.5-billion effort to address climate change. According to Wageningen University, […]
In Iowa, Green Plains Inc. has achieved ongoing production of dextrose syrups at the world’s first commercial deployment of its Clean Sugar Technology. Designed by Fluid Quip Technologies, the system produces dextrose and glucose corn syrups with up to a 40% lower carbon-intensity than existing alternatives. The ingredients are designed for renewable chemicals, biobased materials […]
In Pennsylvania, Preferred Sands, a manufacturer of infill for synthetic turf, has received the USDA Certified Biobased Product label for its OptiFILL+ Antimicrobial Coated Sand infill. With over 40% biobased content, OptiFILL+ offers a “sustainable solution for sports fields, landscaping, and pet applications.” The company did not provide details on the biobased materials used in […]
In Tennessee, Oak Ridge National Laboratory researchers are using a biobased material to 3D-print custom roosting structures for endangered bats. The custom wildlife roosting structure was 3D printed at the Manufacturing Demonstration Facility at ORNL using pine wood flour and polylactic acid. The material’s biodegradability promotes a healthy habitat, since habitats that persist in the […]
In California, a pet food startup focused on using sustainable proteins has partnered with cellular agriculture firm Novel Farms to source cultivated meat to feed family fidos and felines. According to vegconomist, the companies are developing prototypes with hopes to launch a product in 2025. Friends & Family Pet Food aims to move from “factory-farmed […]
In Denmark, Scandinavian-aesthetic furniture brand TAKT has introduced apple waste-based Leap material from Beyond Leather Materials in 8 of its most iconic chair designs. TAKT product developer Michael Lysemose said Leap was chosen because TAKT wanted to find alternatives to leather—a material with significant CO2 impact—with a material that would not “compromise” the aesthetics and […]
In Oman, design firm Nawa Tek has converted leftover date seeds into a material suitable for use as 3D printer filaments. Dubbed RePit—a play on the words repeat and “pit”, as the date seed is often called—the material is made by crushing the pits and mixing them with limestone and clay. The resulting composite is […]
In Arizona, Nxu, Inc., an energy storage and charging solutions, and bioplastics company Verde Bioresins, Inc. have entered into a merger agreement. Under the terms of the deal, Nxu will acquire all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Verde in an all-stock transaction. Upon closing of the merger, the combined company is expected […]
In the Netherlands, biobased chemical firm Avantium has officially opened the world’s first large-scale furandicarboxylic acid at Delfzijl. The facility has the capacity to produce 5,000 tons of FDCA annually. The FDCA will be converted into plant-based and circular plastic polyethylene furanoate, a 100% plant-based polyester that can be used in several applications, including bottles, […]
