Belgrade’s Bpack backs bark-based bioplastic
In Belgrade, a packaging startup has developed a bioplastic using bark—an underutilized waste from timber processing—and used coffee grounds. According to AgFunderNews, Bpacks’ material...
5 Gyres research finds gaps in bioplastics’ biodegradability claims
In California, environmental nonprofit the 5 Gyres has released findings questioning the biodegradability of certain bioplastics, including polylactic acid. The report, called Better Alternatives...
Sparxell raises $3.2 million for biobased pigments
In the United Kingdom, Sparxell, a developer of plant-based pigments, has completed a $3.2-million funding round. The cash will be used to accelerate development...
University of Bath joins biobased buildings material project
In the United Kingdom, the University of Bath has joined a European consortium targeting natural and biobased building materials. Dubbed Inbuilt, the group is...
CJ Bio PHA grade deemed appropriate for food contact
In Massachusetts, a semi-crystalline polyhydroxyalkanoate biopolymer producing by CJ Biomaterials has been included in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Inventory of Effective Food...
Sappi North America and Biophilica partner to improve plant-based leather
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...
Italy team develops biobased, inflammation-busting burn bandages
In Italy, a team from Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia has developed a biodegradable and biocompatible bandage using plant-based materials such as maize, pectin, and...
Chemicals trade group issues principles to support biobased plastics development in the US
In Washington, DC, American Chemistry Council has released a set of principles and definitions to promote policies that support responsible growth of commercially available...
University of Bristol creates biodegradable wires from proteins
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...
Bioplastic straws an unlikely savior for coral
In Florida, researchers have developed a novel solution to keeping young, vulnerable coral from being eaten by predatory fish: protective cages made from bioplastic...