In London, Shellworks, a company using microbes to ferment used cooking oil and other second-generation feedstocks into a biodegradable plastic alternative, has raised $15 million in a Series A funding. The company will use the funds to scale up global production for its Vivomer material and expand into the US and EU wellness market. The […]
In London, Ananas Anam, a company making a leather alternative called Pinatex from pineapple leaf fiber, has filed for bankruptcy. The company amassed a number of offtake partners in its thirteen years of operation, including household names like Nike and H&M. However, according to Ecotextile, the company failed to achieve and sustain commercial scale and […]
In London, bioplastics were used in the elaborate costumes of a whimsical stage play that saw the events of Alice in Wonderland take place in London during the Blitz. Dubbed Alice by Heart, the costumes were designed by Sarah Mosher, associate professor of costume design at Baylor. Algae-based bioplastics were shaped into numerous costumes, including […]
In London, Arda Biomaterials has created a leather alternative from brewer’s spent grain. Dubbed New Grain, the material is supple and durable, and because it reconstructs proteins to resemble the structure of animal proteins, it doesn’t require the plastic binders and coatings many other plant-based leather alternatives require. “Plant proteins come in this really coiled up, […]
In the United Kingdom, London internet provider G.Network has entered administration because it used fiber optic cable jackets made of soy- and corn-based materials that have been chewed by rats. First reported The Telegraph, G.Network is £300 million (US$411 million) in debt and only had 25,000 paying subscribers. Community Fibre was considering acquiring the company’s […]
In London, BSF Enterprise PLC has announced a £15-million (US$19.9-million) fundraise to advance its Lab-Grown Leather technology, with the ultimate goal of showcasing the world’s first T-Rex leather in 2026. The headline-grabbing innovation is possible by incorporating “uniquely defined DNA” derived from the prehistoric animal, and plans for the exhibit are being finalized in partnership […]
In London, design firm Morrama and 3D printing studio Batch.Works have created headphones for children made of the bioplastic polylactic acid. Dubbed Kibu, the headphones are made for kids aged 5-11. They come in pieces that easily snap together, so they can be “assembled and disassembled with little hands,” Batch.Works tells design publication dezeen. “Engaging […]
In London, bioplastic electric toothbrush maker Suri has updated its original product with a pressure sensor, quieter motor and wireless charger. Like its first-generation model, Suri 2.0 works with bioplastic brush heads that can be sent back to the company for recycling. Suri’s first product hit the market in 2022, winning the public vote for […]
In London, scientists from King’s College have found that keratin extracted from human hair creates a protective coating similar to tooth enamel when it comes into contact with minerals in saliva. They theorize that their findings could yield a tooth-repairing toothpaste within two years. “Keratin offers a transformative alternative to current dental treatments,” said Sara […]
In London, Central Saint Martins graduate Hinna Khan has created a simple electronic device from conductive wool. Dubbed WoolTech, Khan was able to replace petroleum-based materials traditionally used to make wires and circuit boards with wool that was laser-treated to possess conductive pathways. The wool that was not treated with the laser formed natural insulation. […]
