In Santa Cruz, California, Swellcycle is working to make surfboards more earth- and ocean-friendly by leveraging 3D printing and renewable and recycled materials. Most surfboards are carved out of blocks of petroleum-based foam, and estimates suggest nearly half of the foam goes to waste. Swellcycle’s boards, however, are made from bioplastic 3-D printed filament made […]
In Brooklyn, CRÈME Architecture and Design has demonstrated a concept that uses gourds to create biodegradable coffee cups. Dubbed The Gourd Project, CRÈME used 3D-printed molds to grow gourds into desired shapes. Once dried, the gourds naturally became watertight. The entire cycle takes about six weeks and each gourd cup can be used three to […]
In Italy, swimwear brand Arena has signed a deal to source biobased LYCRA fibers for its new Vitalife line. Dubbed EcoMade, LYCRA’s plant-based elastomer fibers are 70% plant-based with the same elasticity, strength, and ultraviolet and chlorine resistance as its 100% petroleum-derived counterparts. According to Textile Today, Sahika Ercumen, a Turkish freediver, called the line […]
In San Diego, performance recovery brand NAMU has launched SL01, a recovery slide made from Algenesis Labs’ biobased Soleic-brand polyurethane. NAMU calls it the recovery sandal “engineered for both performance and environmental responsibility.” The slide features NAMU’s Recovery Arch Support System, which is designed to ensure proper foot alignment and function with every step. “Soleic® […]
In Spain, the Plastics Technology Centre AIMPLAS has launched the SOLRESS project, a four‑year initiative to turn post‑consumer coffee grounds and lignocellulosic biomass into five renewable industrial solvents. Backed by €7 million (US$7.7 million) from the Circular Bio‑based Europe Joint Undertaking, the project aims to replace fossil‑derived raw materials with biobased alternatives that meet industrial […]
In London, BSF Enterprise PLC has announced a £15-million (US$19.9-million) fundraise to advance its Lab-Grown Leather technology, with the ultimate goal of showcasing the world’s first T-Rex leather in 2026. The headline-grabbing innovation is possible by incorporating “uniquely defined DNA” derived from the prehistoric animal, and plans for the exhibit are being finalized in partnership […]
In Switzerland, sustainable golf products company Innoguer GmbH has been awarded the prestigious InnoPrix SO! by the Baloise Bank Ltd foundation in recognition of its development of the Loop biodegradable golf ball. Set to hit Swiss retail shelves in 2027, Loop golf balls are made of high-performance biopolymers. According to Innoguer, approximately 1 billion golf […]
In Kansas, specialty materials maker Futamura USA is producing glitter from its parent company’s NatureFlex™ films, which have demonstrated wastewater, marine, and soil biodegradability. Glitter is increasingly under fire for its contribution to microplastic pollution, and is facing numerous bans worldwide. NatureFlex™ films are produced from renewable wood pulp, harvested from responsibly managed plantations, and […]
A team of researchers from UK’s Nottingham Trent University and Yale University’s Center for Green Chemistry and Green Engineering have demonstrated a more sustainable alternative to photoluminescent solid-state materials used in display technologies, lighting, sensors, security inks, and biomedical imaging. Combining lignin and histidine, the team was able to create materials that absorb ultraviolet light […]
In London, design firm Morrama and 3D printing studio Batch.Works have created headphones for children made of the bioplastic polylactic acid. Dubbed Kibu, the headphones are made for kids aged 5-11. They come in pieces that easily snap together, so they can be “assembled and disassembled with little hands,” Batch.Works tells design publication dezeen. “Engaging […]
