In Kerala, India, a two-year-old startup is making a leather-like material from coconut water and waste fibers. Dubbed Malai, which is Hindi for “cream” as well as the milky part of the coconut, the material is textured, water-resistant, and biodegradable. The company was founded by Zuzana Gombosova, a Slovakian fashion designer, and CS Susmith, a […]
In Bengalaru, India, a startup is producing biodegradable straws from coconut leaves. Dubbed Evlogical Eco Care Private, the company takes fallen coconut leaves from local farms, gives them an “intense” cleaning, then sells them under the brand name Kocos Leafy Straws. Manigandan Kumarappan tells The Logical Indian the eco-friendly straws do not get soggy for […]
In Singapore, cultured meat leader Eat Just has claimed the world’s first commercial sale of a cultured meat product. The news comes just weeks after the company secured regulatory approval for its cultured chicken in Singapore, another world first. The chicken became available on the menu of restaurant 1880 on Saturday, December 19. Based in […]
In Vancouver, cell-based milk firm TurtleTree Labs Pte. Ltd. has raised $6.2 million in an oversubscribed $6.2 million Pre-A round. TurtleTree, a portfolio company of alternative food investment issuer Eat Beyond Global Holdings, plans to use the funds to grow its team and accelerate research and production of the highly functional, valuable bioactive proteins and […]
In Singapore, a team of researchers are evaluating how chitin—a material found in the exoskeletons of crustaceans and bugs—can help solve the material sourcing challenges associated with Mars colonization. Conventional building materials, such as concrete and steel, are astronomically expensive to send into space. To address the infrastructure needs of a such an expedition,, Javier […]
In Scotland, researchers are evaluating how to promote circularity in the region’s most famous export—whiskey. The Whisky Project, led by the Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre, includes Horizon Proteins, MiAlgae, and BioPower Technologies working to maximize value from whisky coproducts like draff and pot ale. All three companies already leverage whisky byproducts: Horizon Proteins extracts proteins […]
In Texas, researchers at A&M University have deployed the bacterium Zobellella denitrificans ZD1 to convert sewage sludge into the biodegradable plastic polyhydroxybutyrate. PHA is known to be produced by several bacterial species as a supplemental energy reserve in carbon-rich environments with limited nitrogen, phosphorous, or oxygen. Cost issues associated with bacterial production of bioplastics have […]
In Texas, Hollywood heavy hitters Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard have picked Waco as the site of a new production and distribution facility for their natural baby care company, Hello Bello. The pair’s product line includes diapers made from plant-based absorbents and sustainably harvested fluff pulp. Wipes, toiletries, and cleaning supplies are also being sold. […]
In London, sustainable apparel firm PANGAIA has invested in Kintra Fibers, a material science company making 100% biobased and compostable yarns. PANGAIA will help Kintra scale its sugar-based resin and yarn production process and develop fabric blends and apparel using Kintra’s technology. PANGAIA says Kintra’s resin and yarns can be seamlessly integrated into existing synthetic […]
In Finland, architects and contractors are looking toward Scandinavia’s vast forests to reduce the carbon intensity of construction. Business Finland says 80% of detached houses in Finland already have a wooden frame, and many public buildings are also constructed with timber. The trade group also highlights new, wood-based technologies being explored in Finland. Woodio, for […]
