Avantium completed its first commercial FDCA plant after nearly two decades of development, last October, and start-up is underway. We had a good signal this week on prospects for the future, Avantium announced a capacity reservation agreement with BIOVOX who will use Avantium’s PEF (polyethylene furanoate) in various pharmaceutical applications. This PEF is expected to […]
In Maine, nine researchers from the University of Maine’s Advanced Structures and Composites Center, including those focused on biobased materials innovation, are being laid off. ASCC has been pioneering the use of Maine-sourced wood waste and other renewable feedstocks to 3D print homes and develop next-generation composites. The layoffs, effective June 6, come after the […]
In Texas, specialty chemical maker COIM USA has acquired a 20-acre property in New Boston from Palmer International. The acquisition includes existing logistics infrastructure, as well as a new, renewable polyol product line, consisting of materials made principally from rapidly-renewable Cashew Nutshell Liquid. This product line will complement COIM’s existing Isoexter line of polyester polyols, […]
In Switzerland, researchers at the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology have developed a biobased material from the living mycelium of the split-gill mushroom that boasts impressive tensile strength and durability while remaining fully biodegradable and edible. The findings could mark a significant advancement over traditional biobased materials that often lose their eco-friendly […]
In Malta, materials research company Natural Edge has joined the SUSTAInPack sustainable packaging initiative, which aims to create biodegradable, seaweed-based packaging films for food and industrial applications. Currently, biobased films lack the performance attributed needed for such applications. Often, synthetic additives are added to strengthen mechanical strength and water resistance—but at the expense of biodegradability. […]
In Italy, a groundbreaking initiative has “tapped” into innovation by turning beer waste into a renewable solution for plastic pollution. Dubbed LIFE RESTART, the project is transforming spent grain from breweries into high-performance bioplastics—replacing 300 tonnes of fossil-based plastics and fueling a circular economy. The project, which is support by the EU’s LIFE Programme and […]
In London, Mosa Meat, a pioneer in cultivated beef, has submitted its first application for market approval in the United Kingdom. The submission focuses on cultivated fat as an ingredient, which can be blended with plant-based ingredients to create “delicious beefy foods” like hamburgers, shepherd’s pie and meatballs. “We are thankful to the Food Standards […]
In California, biotech-based material firm GOZEN has announced a leadership transition as it scales up commercial operations. Founder and former CEO Ece Gözen will now serve as Chief Innovation Officer and Creative Director, while textile industry veteran Dr. Sedef Uncu Aki is stepping in as the company’s new CEO. Dr. Uncu Aki, who joined GOZEN […]
In Pennslylvania, Shivani Chawla, a biomaterials engineer student at the University of Pennsylvania, has turned discarded seafood shells and cellulose pulp into vibrant, sustainable art that is not only visually stunning but also responds to environmental changes like UV exposure. Growing up hiking through the forests of Colorado and New Jersey, Shivani developed a deep […]
In Scotland, researchers from the University of Edinburgh’s Roslin Institute have created a pig cell line capable of producing fat cells with “remarkable consistency” and stability, without genetic editing. Principal Investigator Professor Xavier Donadeu said in a press statement that the cells could be a game-changer, with future applications potentially including feeding astronauts in space. […]
