This hot news is in car e-zines – CarScoops, Automotive World, The Auto Channel – but here at The Digest, an inside look at Bentley’s Flying Spur Hybrid car that drove across Iceland, 733 km (455 miles), in one stint using second generation biofuel made from waste biomass, in this case waste straw based biofuel […]
In Germany, hygiene and health company Essity presented a breakthrough in sustainable tissue production and is beginning production based on pulp from wheat straw. The plant in Mannheim, Germany, is the first of its kind in Europe, and the first on a large-scale tissue production in the world. This new type of tissue paper is […]
In Mexico, tequila giant Jose Cuervo wants you to make a good decision for the planet even if you make bad decisions after ordering one too many margaritas. To help celebrate National Tequila Day on July 24, the party purveyor is giving away packs of agave-based straws. Interested parties and partiers can send their names […]
In New York, popular burger chain Shake Shack is trialing the use of bioplastic straws and utensils at a handful of its 310 stores. Nation’s Restaurant News says the biodegradable, polyhydroxybutyrate service ware items are already being used at locations in West Hollywood and Long Beach, California; Madison Square Park and West Village, New York […]
In Italy, architecture firm LCA Architetti has designed a small country house made from natural and recyclable construction materials. The simple design utilizes a prefab timber structure and straw insulation sourced from local rice farmers. The house’s most striking feature, however, is arguably cork cladding in a “wavy textured finish” that reduces the structure’s energy […]
In Georgia, single-use dinnerware maker WinCup says it will give away biodegradable drinking straws on January 3, otherwise known as National Drinking Straw Day. Dubbed phade, WinCup’s straws are made from Danimer Scientific’s Nodax polyhydroxyalkanoate. As long as supplies last, WinCup will send free straws to people who like them on Instagram or friend them […]
In Bengalaru, India, a startup is producing biodegradable straws from coconut leaves. Dubbed Evlogical Eco Care Private, the company takes fallen coconut leaves from local farms, gives them an “intense” cleaning, then sells them under the brand name Kocos Leafy Straws. Manigandan Kumarappan tells The Logical Indian the eco-friendly straws do not get soggy for […]
In the US, edible straw maker SORBOS has landed its first restaurant franchise deal. Tropical Smoothie Café will use the straws for a limited time, beginning November 11. The 100% flavored and biodegradable plastic straw alternative is made of sugar, water, cornstarch and gelatine and stays rigid for 40 minutes in cold and frozen […]
In Massachusetts, Dunkin’ has said it is testing the use of bioplastic straws at 250 locations throughout the United States. Formerly known as Dunkin’ Donuts, the popular coffee chain says the straws are made of PHA, a bioplastic produced via fermentation from canola oil. “[W]hile the straws have the same look and feel as traditional […]
In India, an English professor is working to address the populous country’s plastics waste crisis by turning waste coconut leaves into straws. Saji Varghese, of Christ University in Bengaluru, tells India Times the idea came to him in 2017 when he noticed the shape a fallen coconut leaf on campus took. “I picked it up […]
