In Paris, the European Space Agency has released the blueprint for at-home 3D printers to produce their own miniature Rosalind Franklin ExoMars rover at home using bioplastic. The ExoMy rover stands at 16 inches—scaled down from 78-inch tall version that will actually roam Mars beginning in 2023. It will take about two weeks for space […]
In Germany, Gleistein Ropes has announced it will shift its ropes currently produced using DSM’s Dyneema-brand ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene fibers to the biobased version of the UHMWPE material. “These fibers possess exactly the same trusted strength and reliability of their conventionally sourced counterparts, yet contribute substantially to climate protection due to their renewable, bio-based raw material,” […]
In Austin, Texas, organic grocer Whole Foods has launched a biodegradable electric toothbrush head made from cornstarch. Dubbed Plus Ultra, the replacement heads will be available for the popular Philips Sonicare and Oral B electric toothbrushes this month and Spring 2021, respectively. They will be sold at 3,000-plus Whole Foods locations and online at LivePlusUltra.com […]
In Malaysia, a shoe company and baby care brand have partnered to bring biodegradable face masks made of coffee waste to the local market. The masks are meant to serve as an eco-friendlier personal protective equipment option against the spread of COVID-19. Local infant retailer Offspring, Inc will sell the reusable, three-layer masks for RM79 […]
In the United Kingdom, baby care brand Huggies has introduced baby wipes that biodegrade after just 15 days under landfill conditions. Huggies Pure Biodegradable wipes, made from natural fibers, are 100% plastic free and the brand’s first biodegradable product. They will be available at UK Asda and Morrison stores. “We know this announcement will be […]
In Alabama, German specialty chemicals company Evonik has acquired a line of biomaterials from Birmingham’s DURECT Corporation for $15 million. The LACTEL Absorbable Polymers portfolio is comprised of biodegradable, PLGA-based polymers used in drug delivery, tissue engineering, and 3D printing of implantable medical devices. The business will be integrated into Evonik’s Health Care business. “The […]
In San Francisco, animal-free cheesemaker Change Foods has raised $875,000 in an oversubscribed, pre-seed funding round, according to Green Queen. The company had initially targeted $600,000. Proceeds will be used to create Change Foods’ first prototype with the look, taste, and cooking consistency of dairy-based products. The company says its alternative cheese is better than […]
In India, cell-based meat company ClearMeat has developed cultivated chicken mince that it hopes will address both the populous country’s increasing appetite for chicken and concerns for the environmental impact of this growing meat consumption. Unlike most lab-grown meat makers, ClearMeat claims its production cost, at $10.77–11.44/kg, is already on par with conventional chicken mince […]
In the Philippines, an engineering student has won the James Dyson Sustainability Award for an invention that turns waste crops into clean energy-generating building cladding. Carvey Ehren Maigue developed AuReus by extracting luminescent particles from waste agricultural crops and suspending them in resin to produce cladding for walls or layers between windows. The particles convert […]
In Canada, KFC is debuting biodegradable cutlery. The ubiquitous purveyor of seven herbs and spices expects the switch to sporks made of bamboo, corn, and sugarcane will eliminate 40 million pieces of plastics from its waste stream. The new cutlery, which debuts in December, breaks down into biomass, carbon dioxide, and water at room temperature. […]
