In the UK, Arda Biomaterials has raised £1.1 million (US$1.4 million) to develop and scale its beer waste-to-leather technology. Arda’s process uses the waste barley grain from the brewing industry to produce a material that can be used in fashion, home goods, and the auto industry. The company was founded in 2022 by Edward TJ […]
In Sweden, sustainable fashion accelerator H&M Foundation has announced the winners of its Global Challenge Awards, which include several companies making textiles from renewable sources. Winners include Algreen, a London startup converting food waste into polyurethane for foams appropriate for shoes and fabric coatings; Alt Tex, which uses food waste to produce polymers that can […]
In New York, mycelium materials company Ecovative Design has raised $30 million in a Series E financing. Half of the funds will be used by its plant-based foods subsidiary, MyForest Foods Co., and the other half will support Ecovative’s plans to scale its Forager business into a world-class supplier of sustainable textile and foam products. […]
In Brazil, Reuters reports that Unipar Carbocloro has made a non-binding offer to conglomerate Novonor to acquire a controlling stake in Braskem. Citing a securities filing, Reuters notes that the Unipar proposal also includes the possibility of Novonor continuing to hold an indirect minority stake in the petrochemical firm. Participation by Petrobras, which holds 47.0% […]
In Germany, chemicals giant BASF has announced plans to expand capacity for biobased alkyl polyglucosides in Bangpakong, Thailand and Cincinnati, OH. APGs are secondary surfactants derived from 100% renewable feedstocks. The non-ionic surfactants are widely used in different applications within personal care, home care, industrial & institutional cleaning, industrial formulations and agriculture markets. “Both our […]
In Colorado, baseball legend Derek Jeter has invested in alternative protein company Meati Foods and joined the company as an advisor. Based in Boulder, Meati products use mushroom root and are available at Sprouts markets nationwide as well as restaurants like PLNT Burger. “When it came to considering an investment in this industry, I had […]
In Washington, DC, health advocacy nonprofit Physician’s Committee for Responsible Medicine is alleging a new ad campaign from the USDA violates laws forbidding federal agricultural promotions from depicting products in a negative light. The ad from USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service features The White Lotus star Aubrey Plaza mocking plant-based milk by promoting the clearly fake […]
In Sweden, popular spirits producer Absolut Vodka has unveiled the latest iteration of its paper bottle design as it makes progress toward its goal of 100% biobased packaging. The latest version is 57% paper with a plastic lining. It was developed as part of the Pabobco bottle initiative, which also includes brands such as Coca-Cola […]
In Sweden, fast fashion giant H&M group has led an investment round in New York biobased materials startup Kintra Fibers. Kintra’s material is designed to address the environmental impact caused by traditional polyester. The funds will allow Kintra to expand its resin and yarn production capacities and better support its frontier brand partners, which include […]
In Bulgaria, a “sustainable edibles” startup aims to reduce the mountains of waste generated by takeaway cups of coffee. Dubbed Cupffee, the company has developed a material from oat bran, wheat flour, sugar and oil that will not leak and can be eaten once you’ve fulfilled your morning caffeine fix. “[Cupffee] remains crunchy for 40 […]
