In Amsterdam, the PEFerence consortium has announced completion of the world’s first large-scale biorefinery to produce polyethylene furanoate precursor furan dicarboxylic acid (FDCA). PEFerence, a consortium of 13 companies looking to advance PEF as a lower-carbon, biobased alternative in the production of bottles, flexible films and textiles, said an official opening ceremony for the 5,000 […]
In Thailand, allnex, an industrial coatings and resins firm owned by PTT Global, has joined an ongoing biobased epoxy coating development project between AGC VinyThai and Michigan State University Professor Mojgan Nejad. AGC Vinythai has worked with Nejad to explore the use of lignin as a bisphenol A substitute to boost the biobased content of […]
In Paris, cultivated gourmet foods company Gourmey has requested approval for market access in five initial global regions: Singapore, the United States, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and the European Union. Gourmey focuses on “providing new and delicious culinary experiences,” with its flagship cultivated duck product set to offer a new choice for foie gras enthusiasts, […]
In the US, lobbying from the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association has prompted the Department of Defense to cancel plans to fund research into cultivated meat for military consumption. The DoD put out a call in May for funding applications for sustainable food and materials technologies with military applications that reduced emissions via bioindustrial processes. The […]
In Michigan, luxury car company Cadillac has unveiled SOLLEI, a luxury, coach-built, all-electric convertible concept car with mycelium interior materials produced by MycoWorks. The convertible features a “striking 55-inch pillar-to-pillar screen,” a luxurious interior, and “sophisticated exterior lighting choreography.” The name SOLLEI is derived from “sun” (SOL) and “leisure” (LEI) and captures Cadillac’s vision of […]
In Mexico, design studio Manufactura has partnered with New York’s BioMatters to convert waste lobster shells from Maine into a material suitable for 3D printing using. The process involves crushing the shells and mixing that powder with binding agents. The two studios co-developed the idea while visiting Haystack Mountain School of Crafts in Maine, where […]
In Los Angeles, a plant-based diaper made of bamboo viscose and charcoal has won the 2024 Baby Innovation Program Award in the Disposable Diaper Product of the Year category. Produced by DYPER, the diapers offer maximum absorbency and leak protection while also preventing rash and irritation. DYPER Charcoal Enhanced diapers meet the standards of the […]
In the Netherlands, palm oil alternative startup NoPalm Ingredients has raised €5 million (US$5.4 million) to accelerate scale up of its biotech-enabled yeast oils. Founded in 2021 by Lars Langhout and Professor Dr. Jeroen Hugenholtz, NoPalm Ingredients aims to address the environmental and supply chain challenges of conventional palm oil, which is found in 60% […]
In Dallas, commodity and specialty chemicals maker Celanese Corporation has introduced a new biobased foam polymer for athletic footwear applications. The company says Hytrel TPC RS40F2 is ideal for athletic footwear applications and incorporates a minimum of 20% segregated biobased content that is verifiable via the C14 method. Conventional Hytrel TPC is widely used in […]
In Austria, chemical giant BASF, the University of Graz, and the Austrian Research Centre of Industrial Biotechnology have developed a new, computer-assisted model to optimize efficiency of enzyme-based production processes and, in turn, enable new biocatalytic production processes to be scaled up faster from the lab to industrial manufacturing. BASF uses enzymes to make products […]
