In Ontario, natural ingredients producer Jungbunzlauer has broken ground on a $200-million natural xantham gum production facility at Port Colborne. The Phase 1 expansion is expected to be operational from Spring 2026 and produce readily biodegradable xanthan gum, a thickening agent with a wide range of culinary, cosmetic and pharmaceutical uses. The multi-year project is […]
In Estonia, foodtech startup Äio has closed a €6.1 million ($6.8 million) funding round to build a demonstration-scale, fermentation-based production unit converting crop and wood waste into palm oil and animal fats. Investors included Voima Ventures, 2C Ventures, Nordic Foodtech VC, and SmartCap Green Fund. “Providing sustainable alternatives to products such as palm oil or […]
In Bangalore, industrial designer and mechanical engineer Deepak Dadheech envisions a delivery drone made largely out of bamboo that is more sustainable to produce and would biodegrade at the end of its usable life. Dadheech has created a design with bamboo being used for the drone’s frame, legs, and arms. In most of today’s drones, […]
In California, Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong have filed suit against the California Department of Public Health over new hemp regulations they claim will harm their cannabis business. The law, which came into effect this week, bans the sale of hemp food and beverages with any detectable amount of THC. According to the LA Times, […]
In Japan, researchers at Osaka Metropolitan University have developed a new catalyst that efficiently converts glycerol, a byproduct of biodiesel production, into biobased propylene. The study, published recently in Chemical Communications, discusses an innovative catalyst that can selectively reduce glycerol derivative allyl alcohol to biobased propylene, using renewable energy sources like hydrogen or electricity. The […]
In New York, biotech company Helaina has raised $45 million to develop and scale human equivalent-bioactive proteins produced via precision fermentation. The Series B funding brings the company’s total equity funding to $83 million and was led by Avidity Partners. Spark Capital, Ingeborg Investments, Tom Williams of Heron Rock, Barrel Ventures, Siam Capital, Relish Works, […]
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 […]
