In the United Kingdom, a University of Cambridge spinout making single-use plastic out of pea proteins has appointed a Unilever sustainability veteran as chairman. Jeff Seabright, who worked for the consumer goods giant from 2014-2019 and later cofounded sustainability consulting firm IMAGINE, has joined Xampla’s board to help the company bring its biodegradable plastic to […]
In Sweden, doctoral candidate Sweta Iyer has created bioluminescent textiles using enzyme immobilization and plasma treatments. “The important research question was to understand the bioluminescent reaction mechanism that exists in different living organisms and the selection of the reaction system. This was important in order to make it possible to use the luminescent effects in […]
In Texas, a cell-based meat startup aims to have a brisket prototype ready in just two years. Katie Kam, cofounder and CEO of the cleverly named BioBQ, tells The Spoon the company grows fat, muscle, and collagen cells using scaffolding to produce the marbling associated with the slow-cooked barbeque mainstay. “With each sheet about two […]
In Massachusetts, researchers at Tufts University are demonstrating that cultured meat can be made healthier than conventional meat by genetically engineering cow cells to also produce beta carotene. This was achieved by inserting the carotenoid pathway from golden rice. “Cows don’t have any of the genes for producing beta carotene,” Andrew Stout, Biomedical Engineering PhD […]
In London, popular design publication Dezeen has done a deep dive on renewable leather alternatives as fashion and design markets look to move away from both animal-based leather and non-biodegradable petrochemical products. “Leather and fur have long epitomized luxury in the worlds of fashion, accessories and furniture,” writes Dezeen’s Jennifer Hahn. “But recently, popular opinion […]
In the Netherlands, a running shoe brand has designed a 100% plant-based sneaker, jumping ahead of larger brands that have introduced athletic shoes that are partially biobased or incorporate recycled materials. Zen Running Club says its trainer boasts a midsole made of sugarcane and algae and an outsole comprised of natural rubber. “The sugarcane is […]
In New York, glasses giant Marchon Eyewear says it has partnered with Eastman Chemical to use Eastman’s renewable acetate in its frames. Trade-named Acetate Renew, the material is 60% biobased and 40% recycled content. It also has a lower carbon footprint than conventional, petrochemical acetate. Scrap from Marchon’s manufacturing of the frames—which can be up […]
In the United Kingdom, spa supplier BC Softwear has introduced 100% biodegradable slippers made from coir, a soft, fuzzy fiber obtained from the outer husk of coconuts. The slippers are available in cream cotton or jute and can be recycled or tossed with food waste. Bamford, a luxury spa chain, has already put in an […]
In Finland, researchers at the University of Turku have created a cyanobacteria biofilm that produced ethylene—a major building block of the chemical industry—for more than a month. The team genetically engineered cyanobacteria Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 to produce ethylene by inserting a gene for ethylene-forming enzyme acquired from Pseudomonas syringae. The only inputs were sunlight […]
In the Netherlands, a student team and an Israel startup have designed and constructed a prototype electric car with numerous biobased elements, including coconut fiber and horsehair seats and a flax chassis. Dubbed Luca, the zero-waste vehicle was designed by TU/ecomotive, a student company at Eindhoven University of Technology, and UBQ, a Tel Aviv-Yafo-based company […]
