In Miami, Bezos Earth Fund has committed an initial $60 million to establish the Bezos Centers for Sustainable Protein. The centers, which are part of the Bezos Earth Fund’s $1 billion commitment for transforming food, will target major technological barriers to reducing cost, increasing quality, and boosting nutritional benefit of alternative proteins by advancing science […]
In Massachusetts, Keurig Dr Pepper has unveiled a more sustainable vision for the future of single-serve coffee pods, which have boomed in popularity thanks to their convenience but are associated with significant plastics waste. Keurig’s vision is based on its K-Rounds™ plastic-free pods, a revolutionary new form of single serve coffee. K-Rounds pods are created […]
In Shanghai, biobased textiles company Ecopel has launched a new plant-based and 100% chemical-free material called Flur. The company is currently giving brands a preview of the material and, according to Women’s Wear Daily, expects to scale production this summer ahead of fall runway season. “This is really a revolution for the market, and I […]
In Pennsylvania, New Energy Blue has formed New Energy Chemicals to manufacture ethylene using ethanol produced via corn stover. The bio-based ethylene will be used by Dow to manufacture polyethylene, in line with a production pact established in May 2023. New Energy Chemicals will use the ethylene to produce sustainable aviation fuel at its Port […]
In Massachusetts, Biophilica, the company behind Treekind plastic-free leather alternative, is using products from paper and pulp company Sappi, to make Treekind look and feel more realistic. Specifically, Biophilica is applying Sappi’s high-fidelity, 3D, leather grain solution to impart texture to Treekind through the application of Sappi’s Ultracast Viva® release paper. “Inclusion of plastic-containing coatings […]
In Ohio, industrial designer Connor Rusnak has developed an eye-pleasing wifi router prototype using cork as a casing material. Dubbed Pella, Rusnak tells Yanko Design a biodegradable material was chosen to help address the millions of tons of electronics waste that gets tossed every year. “The cork is not just a building material but an […]
In Japan, household name watchmaker Casio has added watches partially made from castor beans to its outdoors-focused Pro Tek Climber line. Already available on Amazon, the Pro Trek PRG-340SC-5 and PRG-340SC-2 are designed for “rugged performance in challenging terrain.” The watch cases and straps are made from bioplastics sourced from plant-based materials, including castor oil. […]
In South Korea, Samsung Electronics product designer Hwan Ju Jeon has created a prototype printer that uses used coffee grounds as ink. While soy-based inks exist as an alternative to conventional, petroleum-based printer inks, the RITI coffee printer concept envisions using material that would otherwise be household trash. “Perhaps the most exciting aspect of this […]
In Poland, Bio PlastPom and Gdańsk University of Technology have developed a biodegradable and compostable packaging material made from potato starch. Tradenamed NOPLA, the material is free of artificial ingredients or plastics and breaks down without adding microplastics into the environment. It is expected to comply with EN 13432 composting standards and EU Directive 904/2019 […]
In the United Kingdom, researchers at University of Bristol are exploring the possibility of producing super-thin biodegradable wires from amino acids and heme molecules similar to those found in hemoglobin, but manufactured using yeast. The work, which is detailed in a recent issue of The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, could lead to […]
