In New York, kelp-to-yarn startup AlgiKnit has raised $2.1 million to advance development and commercialization of its biodegradable fibers. Investors include SOSV and Horizons Ventures, which is among the backers of Impossible Foods. According to vegconomist, the ethical fashion market will reach $8.25 billion by 2023 as consumers opt for greener options. Fashion accounts for […]
In Switzerland, consumer goods giant Nestlé will begin using biobased polyethylene for lids and scoops in its childcare nutrition segment. The lids contain 66% sugarcane-based plastic, while the scoops will be 95% biobased content. The bioplastics can be recycled along with conventional PE and will maintain the same levels of hygiene and shelf life. The […]
In California, SynBioBeta, a community of entrepreneurs, investors, policy makers and enthusiasts devoted to the responsible growth of the synthetic biology field, has done a deep dive on the numerous ways synthetic biology could help save Earth’s beleaguered oceans. Synthetic biology is already replacing ingredients that were once sourced from the ocean, according to the […]
In Los Angeles, online prescription eyewear company EyeBuyDirect has launched a new collection of frames that sport eco-friendly materials, including bioplastic, wood, and recycled acetate. “We want to create eyewear that not only looks good, but also benefits the environment,” says Jim Merk, Brand Director for EyeBuyDirect, in a press statement. “We know consumers are […]
In Tokyo, Yokogawa Electric Corporation has launched Yokogawa Bio Frontier Inc. to develop businesses related to the production and sales of biomass materials, as well as associated licensing and consulting activities. Yokogawa Bio Frontier will focus on developing and commercializing value-added, plant-based biomass materials, such as nanocellulose and lignin monomer, that can be used to […]
In Uganda, researchers at the Makerere University in Kampala have developed a biobased packaging from maize stover that could be used to prevent spoilage of fruits and vegetables. Dubbed Stoverpack and developed in collaboration with scientists at Bangor University’s BioComposites Centre, the new material could also boost incomes for Uganda’s rural farmers, most of whom […]
In San Francisco, mycelium-based leather company MycoWorks has partnered with French luxury goods maker Hermès to advance a new material. Dubbed Sylvania, the new material is used in Hermès popular Victoria bag. The material employs MycoWorks new Fine Mycelium process, which enhances the mycelium as it grows. “We could not imagine a better partner than […]
In California, popular fuzzy boot maker UGG has launched a collection of shoes incorporating materials made from sugarcane and wood. Dubbed Plant Power, the collection includes three styles. The Fluff Sugar Platform and Fluff Sugar Sandal shoes maintain Ugg’s fluffy interior using TENCEL Lyocell, a material produced by Austria’s Lenzing from sustainably harvested trees. The […]
In the Netherlands, graphic designer Marianne de Groot-Pons has created biodegradable face masks with embedded seeds to help address the mountain of waste being generated by personal protective equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her company, Marie Bee Bloom, produces the masks from rice paper and fills each with meadow flower seeds. If the masks are […]
In Philadelphia, the world’s first biodegrable pregnancy test is now available for sale. Developed by healthcare company Lia, the test is made from paper, is flushable, and biodegrades in just 10 weeks. It is also over 99% accurate, in line with plastic competitors. Like other tests, Lia measures urine for a hormone produced when fertilization […]
