In the Netherlands, fashion and science have collided to create the world’s first product made from lab-grown T-Rex Leather.™ The handbag is made of material engineered using reconstructed dinosaur collagen, with no animals—Jurassic or of the current Quaternary geologic period—harmed in the process. First announced last year by creative agency VML, The Organoid Company, and […]
In New Zealand, the Royal New Zealand Returned and Services’ Association (RSA) will be offering more sustainable faux red poppies this year for Poppy Day, its annual fundraising appeal for veterans. Biodegradable poppies made of paper and renewable fibers will replace plastic poppies. The United Kingdom made a similar swap in 2022. RSA national president Tony […]
In Denmark, bioindustrial firm Novonesis and Technical University of Denmark’s (DUT) Bright Biofoundry have partnered to engineer microbes capable of converting carbon dioxide into sustainable proteins. The effort is part of the larger Acetate Consortium, which receives funding from Bill Gates’ and Novo Nordisk’s foundations, and aims to produce CO2-derived acetate. Most microbes naturally thrive […]
In California, a company has created earplugs out of mycelium, the fibrous root network of fungi. Called GOB, the company claims the earplugs deliver frequency protection between 12 and 25 decibels, making them suitable for concerts and loud transit. No binders or synthetic additives are required, meaning the earplugs are biodegradable if they end up in […]
In the Netherlands, sustainable innovation platform Fashion for Good has unveiled plans to scale biobased polyester via a Mass Balance Approach, in which chemicals of renewable and synthetic origin are mingled. The project aims to produce biomass‑attributed polyethylene terephthalate resin and yarns that perform on par with conventional materials, while also building a full cradle‑to‑grave […]
In China, scientists at Shenyang Agricultural University have developed a new insulation material made almost entirely from spent coffee grounds. The team first converted discarded coffee grounds into a highly porous biochar, then blended it with ethyl cellulose, a natural polymer. The combination produced a lightweight composite with strong thermal‑insulating properties, without relying on fossil‑fuel […]
In Pennsylvania, researchers have proven it is possible to convert food scraps such as peels, rinds, and eggshells into renewable building materials. The work, led by Laia Mogas‑Soldevila at University of Pennsylvania’s Weitzman School of Design, centers on transforming food waste into durable materials that can replace carbon‑intensive products like plastics and concrete. Through a partnership […]
In California, ZymoChem has released a research paper demonstrating that its biobased and biodegradable superabsorbent polymer, branded BAYSE™, is the first of its kind to outperform many of the performance attributes of conventional petroleum-based SAPs. Every year, the global hygiene industry uses more than three million metric tons of SAPs, the tiny granules that lock […]
In the UK, entrepreneur Tiger Taylor has launched biodegradable press-on nails after recognizing the need for more sustainable at-home manicure options during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns. Taylor told Marie Claire UK the UK beauty industry produces over 120,000 metric tons of nail and beauty-related trash. Acrylic nails in particular can take hundreds of years to […]
In Missouri, biobased leather maker Pangea has expanded its business with the launch of four new sustainable products: Ecoda Agave, Ecoda Avocado, Vendura Agave and Vendura Avocado. These chrome (Ecoda) and chrome-free (Vendura) leather solutions upcycle massive volumes of discarded agave leaves and avocado pits from Mexico. The agave industry harvests an estimated 2.4 million […]
