In California, seaweed-based bioplastic startup Sway has revealed a “breakthrough technology” that will enable seaweed to replace flexible plastics at scale. The new, patent-pending thermoplastic seaweed resin, dubbed TPSea™, is 100% biobased, home-compostable, and microplastic-free. It can also “mesh seamlessly” with the most scaled plastic manufacturing systems available, enabling “growth and massive impact.” TPSea is […]
In the Netherlands, dairy proteins startup Vivici has achieved self-affirmed GRAS status in the United States for its fermentation-based whey protein, beta-lactoglobulin. Vivici’s beta-lactoglobulin contains all essential amino acids required by the human body, is abundant in leucine and branched chain amino acids, and is rapidly absorbed in the blood plasma. It is also free […]
In Boston, a new report is exploring the future production of sustainable materials, such as handbags of mushroom leather and biodegradable foodware. The report from IDTechEx—a market research and business intelligence company focusing on emerging technologies—notes that, with the right input feedstock, such as biomass or gases, and the right fermentation processes, the outputs of […]
In Paris, beauty giant L’Oréal has introduced animal-free collagen to its Age Perfect Collagen Royal Anti-Aging Face Cream sold in China. Produced via biotechnology, the collagen features an amino acid sequence identical to collagen found in human skin and vital to elasticity and tissue health. In addition to personal care, collagen is used in medical […]
In New York, researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute are developing bacteria that consumer plastic waste and excrete a biodegradable material similar to silk. The team started by isolating a bacterial that naturally consumes polyethylene, a common plastic used in single-use applications. They then genetically edited the bacteria to produce an amino acid sequence similar to […]
In Copenhagen, fashion brand Ganni has designed handbags using faux fur made from nettle, hemp and flax. San Francisco startup BioFluff produces the shaggy material. “We source the fibers in Europe and create the fur in Italy using our patented process,” BioFluff co-founder and CEO Martin Stübler told Dezeen. “We use a combination of existing […]
In India, Praj Industries has told Times of India that its polylactic acid pilot plant will come online by April. Scaling the biodegradable and biobased plastic is in line with Praj’s efforts to develop renewable chemicals and recent policy announcements by the Indian government. “Our work to develop technologies for biopolymers and bioplastics are at […]
In South San Francisco, scientists at a food tech startup called Yali Bio have produced a critical component of human breast milk using engineered yeast. According to the World Health Organization, most of the 130 million babies born annually are fed infant formula at least some of the time. The innovation from Yali will enable […]
In Milan, MAIRE’s NextChem Tech subsidiary and ENGIE have agreed to co-develop and commercialize an advanced biomethane technology to produce synthetic methane from dry biomass waste. Under the terms of the agreement, NextChem Tech will act as strategic partner and co-developer to optimize, integrate, develop, and commercialize the process using NEXTCHEM’s and ENGIE’s proprietary technologies. […]
In Abu Dhabi, Gulf Biopolymers Industries Ltd. plans to build a polylactic acid plant at a Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi site. The plant will eventually produce 30,000 metric tons of the bioplastic and be the first producer of the biodegradable polymer in the Middle East, said Port News. “GBI’s venture is a leap towards […]
