In Taiwan, polyester producer Far Eastern New Century Corp has developed surgical masks using sugarcane bagasse. The new masks have a 60% lower carbon footprint compared to petroleum-based masks, but also cost about three times as much, FENC tells Central News Agency. Nonetheless, interest has been firm, particularly from Japan and Europe. The fibers can […]
In France, designers at Atelier Luma are using salt crystals to produce interior cladding for the eagerly anticipated Arles tower. Over 4,000 glass-like panels—comprised of salt crystals grown on metal mesh using only sunlight and wind—have been installed in the Frank Gehry skyscraper. Henna Burney and Kalijn Sibbel of Atelier Luma, who created the panels, […]
In the UK, researchers have made fully biodegradable glitter that sparkles just as brightly as its persistent plastic predecessor. University of Cambridge scientists used wood pulp, but say other cellulose-rich wastes could be used. The sparkle was achieved by coaxing microscopic surfaces of cellulose to align in such a way that they bend light—thus creating […]
In Virginia, researchers with Virginia Tech developing lab-grown crab meat gained the distinction of being among six recipients of USDA’s first grant pool for cellular agriculture. “Overall we are trying to produce meat without killing animals,” Reza Ovissipour, a food science assistant professor and lead at Virginia Tech’s Future Foods Lab and Cellular Agriculture Initiative, […]
In Dublin, a biotech firm that counts U2 rockers Bono and The Edge among its early backers has raised an additional $45 million. Nuritas aims to launch its first two products—a peptide for skin health first identified in peas and a muscle health peptide found in fava beans—in 2022. The Series B funding brings its […]
In California, UPSIDE Foods has opened a cultivated meat engineering, production and innovation center in Emeryville. Dubbed EPIC, the center can annually produce over 50,000 pounds of finished product, which includes ground or whole cuts of meat, poultry or seafood, and can be expanded to reach 400,000 lbs of output. “Today, our team at UPSIDE […]
The city of Amsterdam has declared mandates for new housing to use biobased materials, beginning in 2025. Called Green Deal Timber Construction, all 32 municipalities within the greater Amsterdam region have signed the legislation. The goal is to reduce the significant carbon dioxide emissions associated with steel and concrete in line with the city’s target […]
In Illinois, a startup has officially launched using catalyst technology developed by the University of Minnesota that converts corn-derived lactic acid into acrylics. Called Låkril Technologies, the company says the technology cuts carbon dioxide emissions by 35% compared to petroleum-based acrylics and is also cost-competitive. “Bio-based acrylics have long been sought by producers and end […]
In Amsterdam, an exhibit organized by Fashion for Good is showcasing a fashion future that is both stylish and sustainable thanks to materials innovation. The “Grow” exhibit, which opened recently, features textile samples made from cotton, kapok fibers, wood pulp, banana fibers and orange peels. It also includes the results of design partnerships facilitated by […]
In the Netherlands, startup Geneusbiotech has partnered with the University of Amsterdam to create 3D printable wood without cutting down any trees. The Teredine Project involves growing plant cells in growing medium into a material with wood-like texture. The goal is to create cells that can then be suspended in hydrogel and 3D printed. Geneusbiotech […]
