In Abu Dhabi, spectators at a recent Grand Prix race enjoyed drinks from a new type of bioplastic cup. Called biodolomer, the compostable material is produced from minerals and vegetable oils and was developed by Sweden’s Gaia Biomaterials. Approximately 150,000 such cups were served at the F1 race. “It’s a fantastic sign of recognition to […]
In Copenhagen, Natural Material Studio has converted spent grain from beer production into indoor design panels for the city’s ÅBEN brewery. Spent grain—also known as mask—is left over from the brewing process. Natural Material Studio’s Bonnie Hvillum tells dezeen the panels’ attractive swirly pattern is natural to the material. “The smaller particles, in powder form, […]
In New York, the Morgan Stanley Institute for Sustainable Investing announced the third cohort of its Sustainable Solutions Collaborative, an initiative launched in 2020 that provides $250,000 grants to innovators addressing complex global sustainability issues. The cohort includes two biobased companies: EarthEnable, a nonprofit headquartered in Rwanda that designs and builds affordable housing products made […]
In Tennessee, a producer of compostable packaging solutions has broken ground on a $350-million expansion of its Vonore Sustainable Biomaterials Campus. Genera’s products are made from locally grown regenerative grasses. The expansion adds more than 150,000 square feet to Genera’s existing facility and will house more than 60 robotic thermoforming machines, a fleet of autonomously […]
In Norway, Circa Group, Vataset Teollisuus Oy and Kemijarvi Biorefinery have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to study building a Circa Furacell production facility at the Kemijarvi Biopark in Northern Finland. The plant would manufacture platform chemical levoglucosenone, biochar and solvent Cyrene from biomass feedstocks. Vataset is developing the Kemijarvi site as a comprehensive biopark […]
In Brazil, agribusiness giant ADM is expanding its ability to supply renewable feedstocks by expanding its oilseed crush capacity at multiple facilities and acquiring a producer of refined glycerin. ADM expects to add 400,000 metric tons of crush capacity per year across its Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul; Porto Franco, Maranhão; and Uberlandia, Minas […]
In Germany, Heidelberg University and chemical giant BASF have extended their joint catalyst development agreement for five more years. The research, being undertaken at Heidelberg’s Catalysis Research Laboratory, will develop catalysts that use raw materials more efficiently, reduce the CO2 footprint of products and production processes, develop new processes for chemical recycling, and work on […]
In Germany, sportswear brand Puma has successfully completed a biodegradability trial for its Re:Suede sneaker, which features Zeology suede, thermoplastic elastomer, and hemp for padding, laces, and lining. The Re:Suede initiative distributed 500 shoes to testers for a six-month period of regular wear. Subsequently, 412 of these shoes were returned to Puma and directed to […]
A collaboration between researchers from Sweden, Denmark and China has successfully converted birch leaves into carbon quantum dots suitable for use in semiconductors. The team, led by researchers at Umeå University, also produced a prototype semiconductor using the material. The dots were found to be a suitable replacement for semiconductor materials that require extensive mining […]
In San Francisco, BioFluff has raised $2.5 million in seed funding to develop and scale its protein technology for 100% plant-based fur alternatives. The round was led by agrifood tech investor Astanor Ventures and follows last year’s $500,000 funding from SOSV, PDS Limited & Joyance Partners. “We were impressed by the passion and determination of […]
