In London, a designer has produced bioplastic face shields using food waste and flowers from the city’s parks. Dubbed Dance Biodegradable Personal Protective Equipment (DBPPE) Post Covid Facemasks, inventor Alice Potts tells dezeen the 20 prototype face masks are biodegradable and vary in color, depending on what flowers are used in its production. “The food […]
In Cincinnati, ubiquitous diaper brand Pampers says its new Pampers Pure line features a plant-based liner enriched with shea butter, a 100% renewable moisturizer derived from the fat of the shea nut. Procter & Gamble, which produces Pampers, says the enriched liner “helps keep baby’s skin hydrated while also serving as a barrier between the […]
In North Carolina, a local entrepreneur has developed synthetic hair made from natural materials. Ciara May tells bizjournals her company, Rebundle, was founded in 2019 to replace the synthetic hair extensions commonly used by black women for braiding with a biodegradable alternative that does not contain irritants or toxic chemicals. “Last summer I experienced severe […]
In Massachusetts, bioengineering company Kalion has been picked to receive $5.7 million in US Department of Energy Funding to work jointly with the Agile BioFoundry to advance biobased glucaric acid. Working with National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and Argonne National Laboratory from the ABF consortium, Kalion Inc. will […]
In Israel, cultured meat startup Aleph Farms has formed the Aleph Zero cultured meat project to one day enable astronauts to enjoy steak on a Mars mission, without the hassle of sending an actual cow into space. A key challenge of long-distance space exploration is the need to cultivate food in difficult environments. Sending bovine […]
In Nara, Japan, a local man has created an edible packaging material from rice bran and milk cartons after several of the city’s sacred deer died after ingesting plastic bags. Hidetoshi Matsukawa, a souvenir wholesaler at the popular tourist destination, developed Shikagami, or deer paper, in partnership with a local design firm and paper company. […]
In Bermuda, spirituous beverage giant Bacardi has announced it will launch polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) bioplastic bottles that biodegrade in 18 months. The new packaging, which will be on shelves by 2023, will eliminate 3,000 tons of plastic from circulation. BACARDI rum will be the first spirit to appear in the new bottle, before the new material […]
In Detroit, two University of Michigan graduates have developed a process to convert a nuisance plant into environmentally-friendly hair extensions. Nana Britwum and Jannice Newson tell Crain’s they founded their company, Lillian Augusta, to commercialize “hair without harm.” Formulated for black women, the extensions use phragmites, an invasive plant with fibrous characteristics. Britwun and Newson […]
In New Zealand, green sneaker pioneer and fashion favorite Allbirds says it is expanding its product line into clothing. The new collection will include a T-shirt made from waste shellfish, sweaters made from merino wool, and a puffer coat comprised of merino wool, recycled materials, and renewable Tencel fiber. The company claims the T-shirt material, […]
In Israel, cell-based meat production firm Meat-Tech 3D Ltd has invested €1 million (USD$1.2 million) in Peace of Meat, a cultured fat developer, and, pending milestone achievements, announced plans to acquire the entire company for about $17.5 million over the next two years. Peace of Meat, based in Antwerp, Belgium, has developed a stem-cell-based technology […]
