In Boston, Swiss specialty chemicals giant Givaudan has partnered with Ginkgo Bioworks to enable fermentation-based production processes for ingredients that are in demand but only available in minute quantities in nature. Under the terms of the deal, Ginkgo will use its cell programming platform to develop organisms that produce these rare products at high yields. […]
In London, sustainability-focused clothing brand Pangaia has added two new biobased fabrics to its collection. Made entirely from agricultural waste, PlntFiber and FrutFiber will help the company replace both synthetic fabrics based on petroleum as well as traditional, but water-intensive, plant-based materials like cotton. Sixty percent of FrutFiber is bamboo, while the balance is comprised […]
In Singapore, cultivated meat startup Shiok Meats recently held a tasting event for what it claims is the world’s first cell-based crab meat. At an August 26th tasting event, samples were available for crab cakes and chili crab, with crab meat grown in a lab from cells extracted from crustacean shells. The dishes were conceived […]
In California, a company that boasts A-listers Oprah and Katy Perry among its investors has raised $250 million to advance its plant-based, shelf-life-extending produce coatings. Apeel Sciences recently closed the Series E round, which brought its total funding to over $635 million and values the company at over $2 billion. The company’s Invisipeel is a […]
In New Zealand, two bakeries have announced plans to eliminate plastic bread clips—the ubiquitous doohickeys used to better seal bread packaging and keep loaves fresh—and replace them with a cardboard alternative. While bread clips are pretty small, the size of the bakeries making the switch adds up to a fairly significant figure in terms of […]
In London, sustainability-focused fashion house Stella McCartney has created a version of its Eclypse sneaker made entirely from plant-based or recycled materials. Dubbed Reclypse, the sneaker features a recycled polyester upper, vegan leather panels, lining made from recycled nylon and post-consumer waste, and plant-based soles. The shoes are hand-made in Italy and will be available […]
In South Korea, LG Chem is investing ₩2.6 trillion ($2.2 billion) to build an eco-friendly materials production complex, including manufacturing using biobased raw materials. The facility at Seosan will include 10 production plants, all set to come online by 2028. Products will include poly butylene adipate-co-terephthalate, a material that breaks down in nature via oxygen, […]
In the United Kingdom, fans at Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium can cut down on waste while simultaneously addressing their caffeine and sugar cravings. The stadium, which is host to Premier League’s Manchester United, will begin selling coffee and other hot beverages in cups made out of cookies, beginning this weekend. The cups are made by […]
In Finland, renewable textile firm Spinnova has partnered with The North Face to improve the sustainability profile of outdoor apparel. Spinnova’s fiber is made from wood pulp and boasts lower water and carbon dioxide emissions than other renewable and synthetic textile materials. “It’s our over-arching goal to build more circular products, constantly develop innovative materials […]
In Himachal, India, a startup is using apple orchard waste to manufacturing biodegradable, single-use tableware such as plates, forks, and knives. Specifically, Himjoy Enterprises is using the tons of twigs and branches that come from pruning apple trees to maintain the orchard’s health and productivity. The business was cofounded by Bhanu Uday Singh Kanwar and […]
