Category: Chemicals & Materials

DARPA taps Cambium for AI tools to identify biobased polymer composites

DARPA taps Cambium for AI tools to identify biobased polymer composites

November 24, 2025 | Rebecca Gendron

In California, materials innovator Cambium was awarded a contract with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency to build artificial intelligence capabilities for identifying novel “bio-enabled extreme-performance” polymer composites. The project will use generative AI to overcome the long-standing trade-off between thermal stability and mechanical strength in structural composites. Cambium and DARPA seek to identify commercially […]

Cow cells to couture: Qorium raises $25M for cultivated leather

Cow cells to couture: Qorium raises $25M for cultivated leather

November 17, 2025 | Rebecca Gendron

In the Netherlands, lab-grown leather startup Qorium has raised $25 million to increase its production capabilities and continue to establish commercial partnerships in high-end fashion and automotive. Qorium’s technology cultivates cells from cows to produce leather. Compared to conventional leather, Qorium’s product uses 99% less water and 66% less energy. Participants in the Series A funding include […]

Acclaimed restaurant Noma partners with Novonesis to “take deliciousness to the next level”

Acclaimed restaurant Noma partners with Novonesis to “take deliciousness to the next level”

November 17, 2025 | Rebecca Gendron

In Denmark, Michelin star-mainstay Noma has partnered with biosolutions leader Novonesis to determine the potential of new biobased food ingredients within the Noma Projects line. The partnership combines Noma’s creativity with Novonesis’ expertise in microbiology. The partnership, which they say will take “deliciousness to the next level,” unites chefs and scientists to accelerate breakthroughs from […]

KAIST team demonstrates use of bacteria to produce and dye cellulose

KAIST team demonstrates use of bacteria to produce and dye cellulose

November 17, 2025 | Rebecca Gendron

In South Korea, researchers have coaxed living bacteria to grow, weave, and dye fabrics without the use of oil, plastic or artificial dyes. The team at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology was even able to achieve this in every color of the rainbow. The work started with Komagataeibacter xylinus, a bacteria known […]

Kokomodo signs cultivated cacao pact with Swiss confectioner

Kokomodo signs cultivated cacao pact with Swiss confectioner

November 17, 2025 | Rebecca Gendron

In Israel, cultivated cacao startup Kokomodo has partnered with Chocolats Halba to evaluate the integration of Kokomodo’s cacao into confectionary products. Kokomodo’s process starts with extracting cells from premium cacao beans and growing them in bioreactors with a specialized growth media. The resulting biomass is then processed into powder. The collaboration will test functionality, sensory […]

Logoplaste locks In Avantium’s plant-based plastic

Logoplaste locks In Avantium’s plant-based plastic

November 17, 2025 | Rebecca Gendron

In Lisbon, Logoplaste has secured future access to Avantium’s plant‑based plastic through a capacity reservation agreement for polyethylene furanoate. Avantium N.V., the Amsterdam‑based bioplastics pioneer, did not disclose financial or volume details of the deal. The agreement will enable Logoplaste to accelerate offer next‑generation packaging solutions. The two companies are already collaborating in the Bottle […]

Scaling back plastics: MIT senior creates plastic alternative from fish scales

Scaling back plastics: MIT senior creates plastic alternative from fish scales

November 17, 2025 | Rebecca Gendron

In Boston, Massachusetts Institute of Technology student Jacqueline Prawira has converted fishing industry waste into a translucent, biodegradable plastic alternative, with the project getting her a nod on a recent episode of CBS’s “The Visioneers.” A senior in MIT’s Department of Materials Science and Engineering, the idea came to Prawira while spending time with her […]

Oterra, Seprify partner on plant-based replacement for titanium dioxide

Oterra, Seprify partner on plant-based replacement for titanium dioxide

November 17, 2025 | Rebecca Gendron

In Denmark, natural food coloring suppliers Oterra and Swiss biotech firm Seprify have partnered to market a plant-based white coloring that can replace titanium dioxide in food and beverage applications. Seprify’s extraction technology produces the coloring from microcrystalline cellulose sourced from virgin wood pulp. By integrating Seprify’s cellulose-based technology, Oterra will be able to offer […]

elm-plastic introduces biobased PLA and PE pipettes

elm-plastic introduces biobased PLA and PE pipettes

November 17, 2025 | Rebecca Gendron

In Germany, elm-plastic GmbH, a manufacturer of pharma medical devices, has launched laboratory pipettes made from bioplastic. Dubbed Bio‑Pipette, the product was the result of a collaboration between Biovox and plastics distributor Ultrapolymers Deutschland. Biobased polylactic acid and polyethylene versions are available. Both are certified for medical applications and compatible with multiple sterilization methods. The […]

Chupps commissions disappearing billboard to spotlight its biodegradable sandals

Chupps commissions disappearing billboard to spotlight its biodegradable sandals

November 10, 2025 | Rebecca Gendron

In India, footwear brand Chupps has created a sandal-shaped billboard that is made to disappear over time. The unique advertisement, which is located in Bandra Bandstand in Mumbai, is made from mud, hay, bamboo, cow dung and clay attached to bamboo frames. The sandal has already begun to disappear, thanks to the unrelenting rain during […]

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