In California, the outdoor clothing and gear giant Patagonia has launched its SugarDown Hoody, the company’s first fully biobased jacket, manufactured using Virent’s 100% plant-based paraxylene-called BioForm PX. The SugarDown Hoody is available online now. Using U.S.-grown sugar from the sugarcane fields of Louisiana, Virent produced the paraxylene-a critical component of the SugarDown Hoody’s polyester […]
In New York, PETA has asked Pharrell Williams to use his new appointment as Louis Vuitton’s men’s creative director to encourage the luxury brand to ban animal fur and transition to biobased alternatives. In a letter to the “Happy” hitmaker, PETA Celebrity Outreach Principal Jessica Shotorbani notes that Louis Vuitton is one of the last […]
In Spain, a startup called Persiskin has developed a new type of vegan leather from waste persimmons. The plant-based leather was developed at University of Valencia using a €2-million ($2.2-million) investment from la Comunidad Valencia and textile industry research association AITEX. The purpose of the grant was to find a use for the 500 million […]
In India, banana has become the latest fruit to be turned into vegan leather. Dubbed Banofi, the material was developed by Kolkata’s Atma Leather using upcycled banana crop waste as feedstock. India is one of the world’s largest producers of bananas, a crop that generates four tons of waste for every ton of edible fruit. […]
In Bangladesh, several Rohingya refugee families are among the first to use new shelters made of jute and a plant-based plastic from Applied Bioplastics. Designed to replace shacks usually made of bamboo and tarps, the new shelters even withstood the typhoon that hit the Southeast Asian country in 2022. The material “is cheap and doesn’t […]
In the United Kingdom, prolific designer Julian Melchiorri has introduced a chandelier concept that incorporates air-purifying algae. Dubbed Exhale, the living chandelier consists of 70 glass leaves full of green algae that absorb carbon dioxide and releases oxygen. Exhale is designed to work both inside and outdoors and was on display at London Design Week, […]
In California, synthetic biology firm Amyris has sold three ingredients to beauty and fragrance major Givaudan. The products sold include performant emollient Neossance® Squalane; plant-based silicone alternative Neossance® Hemisqualane; and sun protector CleanScreen. Givaudan and Amyris also signed a long-term partnership agreement under which Amyris will continue to manufacture ingredients for Givaudan to use in […]
In Amsterdam, two leading bioplastic makers have partnered to accelerate development of polyethylene furanoate, a 100% plant-based, fully recyclable plastic material with properties appropriate for replacing many plastics, including high-volume polyethylene terephthalate. The deal was signed last week between Avantium N.V., a producer of PEF-precursor furandicarboxylic acid and Origin Materials, Inc., a US-based manufactutrer of […]
In Germany, specialty chemicals maker Evonik has launched a plant-based feed additive to reduce inflammation in sows, laying hens and dairy cows. Dubbed PhytriCare® IM, the additive consists of selected plant extracts with high flavonoid content and was developed in collaboration with Dr. Eckel Animal Nutrition. The launch is particularly timely, given the recent bans […]
In Iowa, ingredient manufacturer Kemin Industries announced the launch of FermSAVER, a tea-extract product utilized during yeast fermentation for ethanol production, as part of its Kemin Bio Solutions portfolio. The firm said that FermSAVER was developed to help reduce stress when yeast is exposed to excess heat generated during the summer months. Supplementation with FermSAVER […]
