In Ecuador, a team from design firm Lakò Studio is looking for ways to repurpose the copious amounts of cocoa bean waste generated every year into useful building materials. According to Lakò, only half of cocoa beans are used to make food. The remaining shells are comprised of vegetal fibers appropriate for lightweight soundproofing and […]
In New York, Synonym Biotechnologies, a financing and development platform for biomanufacturing infrastructure, has released a report detailing a dearth of fermentation capacity at scales higher than 20,000 liters. The report notes that this shortage is a key bottleneck for growing large-scale biomanufacturing. “This is one of the many mismatches that we’ve identified between what […]
In Germany, specialty chemicals giant Evonik Industries has partnered with AMSilk to produce fermentation-based silk proteins. Evonik is already producing the material at its contract development and manufacturing precision fermentation site in Slovakia using AMSilk’s process. The silk is suitable for a broad range of applications, including fashion, smart materials in the automotive industry, and […]
In Belgium, Solvay’s venture capital fund has joined the Genesis Consortium to support biotech startups in SOSV’s development program. Dubbed IndieBio, the program includes early-stage, venture-backed companies with ties to Solvay’s key markets, including agritech, food, biobased materials and personal care. “[W]e can modify the chemistry to the sectors where chemistry can employ industrial biotech […]
In Austria, Lenzing and Natural Fiber Welding Inc have partnered to offer Lenzing’s cellulose-based TENCEL branded fibers as another backer option for NFW’s plant-based MIRUM® leather. The MIRUM x TENCEL collaboration will be showcased for the first time during the international leather fair, LINEAPELLE, which will take place this week in Milan, Italy. TENCEL Lyocell […]
In France, biobased chemicals firm Groupe Berkem announced the closing of the acquisition of i.Bioceuticals, a North American distributor of nutritional ingredients from INC. Olivier Fahy, Chairman and CEO of Groupe Berkem, said: “Thanks to its know-how in plant extraction and more specifically in the antioxidant market targeting health purposes, Groupe Berkem has been able […]
In Italy, cruise operator Costa Group and methanol producer Proman, have signed an agreement to drive further the implementation of methanol as a marine fuel for the cruise industry. The partnership aims to accelerate the energy transition and decarbonization of the existing fleet by enhancing the supply of sustainable methanol, paving the way for the […]
In California, biotechnology company Checkerspot announced the close of a $55 million Series C financing led by ArrowMark Partners, with participation from Cox Enterprises and other new and existing investors. The funding accelerates Checkerspot’s development and commercialization of high-performance, biobased alternatives for everyday products, the firm said. Checkerspot has previously launched a line of performance […]
In Italy, Maire Tecnimont announced that its subsidiary NextChem has been awarded a feasibility study by Foresight Group for a carbon capture and sustainable methanol synthesis plant in the ETA Manfredonia waste-to-energy plant in Puglia. Upon completion of the feasibility study, the successful finalization of the permitting process as well as the subsequent final investment […]
In Germany, researchers at Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology have discovered a new class of compounds so effective at killing fungi they named them keanumycins—a nod to the fictional hitman John Wick, played by action star Keanu Reeves. Produced by the bacteria Pseudomonas, keanumycins were shown effective against gray mold rot […]
