In Denmark, startup Cellugy has raised €2.38 million (US$2.91 million) to expand production of single-use plastics from cellulose. The seed round funding came from the European Innovation Council Accelerator Pilot Phase 2. Founded by Isabel Álvarez-Martos, Deby Fapyane, and Paruntungan Sihombing in 2018, Cellugy converts sugar into its bioplastic EcoFLEXY, which can be combined with […]
In Georgia, bioplastics maker Danimer Scientific has officially gone public through its previously announced merger with Special Purpose Acquisition Company (SPAC) Live Oak Acquisition Corp. Under the terms of the deal, Live Oak changed its name to Danimer Scientific, Inc. and began trading under the ticker “DNMR” on the New York Stock Exchange on December […]
In Pennsylvania, a blockbuster beauty product for applying flawless foundation is set to launch a plant-based version. Beautyblender, a now-ubiquitous egg-shaped sponge introduced by makeup artist Rea Ann Silva in 2003 and popularized by the Kardashians and other makeup gurus, will soon introduce a Bio Pure version made with 60% plant-based materials. The switch is […]
In Georgia, single-use dinnerware maker WinCup says it will give away biodegradable drinking straws on January 3, otherwise known as National Drinking Straw Day. Dubbed phade, WinCup’s straws are made from Danimer Scientific’s Nodax polyhydroxyalkanoate. As long as supplies last, WinCup will send free straws to people who like them on Instagram or friend them […]
In Japan, Michelin Star chef Shimamura Masaharu has launched a cultured meat startup. The award-winning creator and owner of Osaka’s Unkaku restaurant has launched DiverseFarm as a joint venture with TissueByNet, a company developing cultured cellular tissue technology for producing lab-grown organs. DiverseFarms hopes that TussueByNet’s process, which uses spheroids and Net Molds to […]
In Belgium, a cultivated fat startup has conducted a survey showing more than half of plant-based meat producers would “likely or very likely” add cultivated fat to their products to improve taste and texture while preserving their “clean label” branding. Peace of Meat managing director David Brandes tells FoodIngredientsFirst the results confirm the company is […]
In Assam, India, two entrepreneurs and childhood friends have created natural teabags made from leaves to replace traditional options made from plastic. Upamanyu Borkakoty and Anshuman Bharali founded Wooláh to help commercialize their innovation, which they dubbed Truedips. The bags are comprised of two compressed leaves shaped cylindrically and bound with cotton. “While Truedip’s look […]
In India, entrepreneur Ambud Sharma is incorporating vegan leather into luxury men’s shoes as his brand begins to expand beyond the Indian market. The former software engineer launched the Escaro Royale line in 2017, and during the pandemic, began exploring vegan leather made from peas and mushrooms. “We procure raw material from environment-responsible factories and […]
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 […]
