In Malaysia, a producer of medical gloves is hoping to address the environmental impact of the COVID-19 pandemic by introducing a natural rubber medical glove that biodegrades 100 times faster than its synthetic counterparts. According to Meditech Gloves, 300 billion medical gloves will be used in 2020, enough to fill the Empire State Building a […]
In the United Kingdom, biotech firm Toraphene has developed a biodegradable plastic packaging incorporating graphene that it says will boost food safety and shelf-life. The material, also called Toraphene, is stronger, thinner, and has better permeability characteristics than current bioplastics. “Amidst a climate crisis, plastic waste is known to be a huge global problem and […]
In San Diego, cultured meat startup Ouroboros Steak has designed a kit that enables people to grow little human steaks in their own home and even from their own cells. The creepy quasi-cannibalism concept was developed by scientist Andrew Pelling, industrial designer Grace Knight and artist and researcher Orkan Telhan. The grow-your-own-flesh kits work […]
In Singapore, Shiok Meats has unveiled the world’s first lab-grown lobster meat. In a private tasting showcase, Chef José Luis Del Amo of TheTasteLab served lobster tomato, leek, red pepper and cucumber gazpacho and lobster terrine as well as lobster meat and mayonnaise on a crostini. “The taste is wonderful – to really get a […]
In Northwest Europe, companies looking to develop insect-based foods can apply for grants. The European ValuSect (Valuable Insects) consortium is offering forty grants, worth €10,000 ($11,800), €20,000 ($23,600) or €40,000 ($47,300) in service vouchers, over three years, starting December 1. “Consumers’ appetite for insects in Europe is slowly positively evolving, as there is more and […]
In South Korea, the sportswear brand of chemical and textile giant Kolon Industries has developed renewable and biodegradable mannequins for its showrooms. Most mannequins are made of fiber-reinforced plastic, but are still replaced frequently due to wear and tear. Kolon’s are constructed from sawdust and an “eco-friendly” adhesive free from chemical hardeners. The new […]
In San Francisco, mycelium materials firm MycoWorks has raised $45 million in a series B financing that it will use to boost capacity for its Reishi vegan leather amid interest from luxury fashion and footwear brands. The financing was led by WTT Investment Ltd. (Taipei, Taiwan) and DCVC Bio, with major participation from new investors […]
In Italy, luxe apparel brand Premiata has entered the sustainable shoe fray with a sneaker that “explores mythology and our relationship with nature.” Dubbed John Low , the shoe is 80% made from renewable or recycled materials such as goatskin, old carpets, and production scraps. The mythology angle comes from the company’s efforts to better […]
In Europe, a multi-country collaboration is looking to replace synthetic dyes in bioplastics with non-toxic alternatives made from turmeric. The Interreg Northwest Europe project CurCol includes partners from research labs in Ireland, Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands and is looking to develop biodegradable yellow pigments based on curcuma, or turmeric root. Curcumin is found mostly […]
In Denmark, Braskem and Haldor Topsoe have begun producing monoethylene glycol—a precursor to widely used bottle plastic polyethylene terephthalate—from sugar at demonstration-scale. Using the jointly developed MOSAIK technology, the Lyngby plant will help the companies provide samples to strategic partners for testing and validation and evaluate process economics before deciding whether to proceed to commercial scale. […]
