In Sweden, researchers from the KTH Royal Institute of Technology and the University of Maryland think see-through wood could be a viable alternative to glass and plastic for device displays like smartphone screens. The international group has developed a process that removes or bleaches lignin, the source of wood’s brown color. Epoxy resin is then […]
In Illinois, a research chemist at the USDA Agricultural Research Service National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research has converted dairy waste into renewable polyurethane and other bioplastics. More specifically, Atanu Biswas has used lactose—a kind of sugar found in dairy—as a bioplastic feedstock. He noted that the bioplastics made from dairy waste would work well […]
In Italy, wood products manufacturer Minelli Group has developed cosmetic packaging from biochar, a material produced from the pyrolysis of residual organic wood waste. Dubbed mBlack, the biochar acts as a carbon sink by containing a very high percentage of carbon of vegetal origin. The company says that, due to its extensive CNC milling operations, […]
In Massachusetts, Yield10 Bioscience, Inc. has filed for regulatory approval of Camelina sativa varieties that produce seed oil containing essential omega-3 fatty acids eicosatetraenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid. The genetic pathway inserted into the omega-3 Camelina DHA1 line produces oil containing approximately 10% EPA and 10% DHA, closely resembling the omega-3 EPA/DHA fatty acid profile […]
In Canada, yeast-based ingredients maker Lallemand has acquired Evolva, a biotech firm based in Switzerland. The acquisition by Lallemand subsidiary Danstar Ferment AG is valued at around $24 million, with the potential for an additional $11.75 million if certain targets are met, according to vegconomist. Evolva develops yeast-derived ingredients for use in flavors and fragrances, […]
In Japan, researchers at Kyoto University hope to launch the first biodegradable satellite into space in 2024. They hope the use of renewable materials will one day help mitigate the growing problem of space waste. The first satellite—dubbed LignoSat—will be about the size of a coffee mug and incinerate when it reenters Earth’s atmosphere. Favorable […]
In India, noted sand artist Sudarshan Pattnaik has sculpted a massive Santa Claus figure using sand and onions. The structure at Blue Flag Beach in Odisha measures 100 x 20 x 40 feet. Pattnaik told BNN he used onions in addition to sand to emphasize the use of biodegradable materials in art. BNN noted that […]
In New York City, a company known for weighted blankets is highlighting sustainability in addition to comfy-coziness with its latest stress relief pillow. The Hugget Knot Pillow from Bearaby is super huggable and squishable, but also promotes sustainability by using Melofoam, a new Bearaby-developed material made from the sap of rubber trees. The resulting biodegradable […]
In Poland, a startup called EcoBean is repurposing coffee waste into biodegradable products, including flower pots, coffee cups, and straws. According to online sustainability publication Impakter, the 2.25 billion cups of coffee consumed daily creates over half a million metric tons of waste coffee grounds. Most of this waste ends up in landfills and emits […]
In Israel, food tech firm Steakholder Foods has produced 3D-printed vegan eel, a concept it hopes will one day help address overfishing. The prototype was made of plant-based eel, but the company aspires to eventually incorporate cultivated eel to produce a hybrid offering. Eels are a delicacy in Japan but a critically endangered species due […]
