Bean shortage, consumer preferences drive hunt for vanilla alternatives
In Canada, a global vanilla bean shortage coupled with consumer demand for natural flavorings is causing prices for the baking staple vanilla to skyrocket—and...
Fast fashion giant H&M eyes biobased fabrics
In Stockholm, H&M has named finalists for its Global Change award, which aims to recognize innovations that improve the sustainability profile of the clothing...
Bamboo-based water filters could solve global crisis
In California, startup Mesofilter has developed a material from bamboo and ceramic granules that can help provide low-cost water filtration to water-stressed regions and...
Enzyme returns textile waste to original monomers
In France, CARBIOS has demonstrated an enzymatic depolymerization process for polyester terephthalate polyester fibers from textile waste. The process broke down the material into...
Maryland researchers tweak wood into cheap, effective insulating material
In Maryland, researchers have developed an inexpensive, biodegradable, and heat-insulating material dubbed nanowood that could revolutionize energy-efficient buildings.
Current insulating materials are expensive, energy-intensive to...
Let’s ketchup! Cellulose film keeps tomatoes fresh for 30 days
In India, researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology-Hyderabad have developed an antibacterial composite food packaging that keeps tomatoes fresh for up to 30...
Meeting puts spotlight on production challenges
In France, the first-ever BIOeconomy’s Key Enabling Technologies conference drew 300 bioeconomy experts to discuss the scale-up challenges to the production of biobased products.
The...
Supermarket in hot water over picnic ware biodegradability claims
In Australia, popular supermarket chain Woolworths is defending itself against a lawsuit brought by consumer watchdogs over allegedly misleading claims that its picnic ware...
Owner of rodent-damaged car proves necessity is the mother of invention
In Granite Falls, Washington, one car owner has invented a special barrier to keep mice from munching on the soy-based components of his 1991...
Shellfish-based packaging set to hit Scotland’s beer coolers
In Scotland, CuanTec says it is close to launching biodegradable beer packaging made from chitin, a material extracted from lobster shells and discarded by...