In California, UGG, a brand best known for its popular and soft sheepskin boots, has introduced a vegan version of its eponymous shoe. Developed in collaboration with Collina Strada, the vegan UGGs come in several styles and colors and are made using sugarcane, wood-based fiber TENCEL, and recycled polyester microfibers. According to vegconomist, the global […]
In Germany, chemical company Covestro and Beyond Leather Materials have developed a protective leather coating made from apple waste. The coating is based on polyurethane dispersions with waste biomass generated by apple juice and cider making, according to European Coatings. With about 25% of every apple discarded after pressing, 4 million tons of such waste […]
In Portugal, designer Giestas has conceived an interesting new paradigm in footwear: biobased slippers that you “bake” at home. Dubbed Baking Vegan Slippers, the concept includes steps to turn your kitchen into a shoe factory. The “recipe” uses algae-based vegan ingredients and requires only everyday kitchen utensils. Specifically, the design uses algae-based thickener alginate for […]
In Philadelphia, leading polyolefins and biopolymers producer Braskem has launched biobased polypropylene. Sold under the brand name WENEW, the PP is produced from used cooking oil and is marketed to the restaurant and snack food industries. “Our bio-circular PP is currently being supplied to various converters which support the Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) industry,” Bill […]
In India, biorefining technology firm Chempolis Oy has said it will be acquired by AM Green, a producer of green hydrogen and green ammonia. Chempolis Oy’s subsidiary, Chempolis India Private Limited is included in the transaction. AM Green aims to become one of the most cost-competitive producers of green molecules in the world. The venture […]
In Helsinki, UPM Biochemicals will be among the first customers to receive kraft lignin from Södra when the forest-owner association’s plant in Mönsterås comes on stream in 2027. Södra’s new plant will be the first commercial kraft lignin production facility in Sweden and the largest of its type in the world. Capacity and financial terms […]
In Germany, specialty chemicals company Evonik has announced a new innovation strategy with renewable chemicals as one of three pillars driving an additional €1.5 billion company sales by 2032. The company pointed to its startup of a biosurfactants plant in Slovakia earlier this year as an example of such activities. The other two pillars are […]
In the UK, packaging consultancy PackHub has added edible forks for packaged noodles, biobased motor cushioning, and silphium fiber cosmetics packaging to its “Innovation Zone,” database of packaging innovations. The plant-based fork from Nestlé is made from wheat flour and salt and has been offered in a limited-edition packaging for its Maggi cup noodles in […]
In the Netherlands, InnoEnergy has made a €1-million (US $1.1 million) investment in biobased materials pioneer, LignEasy. LignEasy’s technology separates lignin for use in high-value applications such as plywood, construction materials, biobased components in plastics and packaging, providing sustainable alternatives to fossil-based products. Each year, over 15 million tons of lignin are burned by European […]
In Massachusetts, Circe has closed a $5 million seed round to advance gas fermentation technology for converting CO2, water, and electricity into sugars, fats, biodegradable plastics, and biofuels. It licensed the process from Harvard University’s Wyss Institute earlier this year. Circe’s initial target products are triglycerides. “Oils are ubiquitous and play a central role in […]
