In London, sustainable fashion pioneer Stella McCartney has unveiled a new version of its S-Wave sneakers, featuring soles made entirely from BioCir Flex, a castor-oil based bioplastic developed by materials startup Balena. Unlike traditional plastic soles, this plant-based material is fully compostable or recyclable, offering a sustainable alternative without sacrificing durability. The soles are dyed […]
In London, Shellworks has launched a fully home-compostable pipette dropper for beauty and wellness product packaging. Pipette droppers used for serums, oils, and wellness products are typically constructed from fused materials including glass, rubber, and plastic, presenting a sustainability challenge in the beauty industry. Their small size means they slip through recycling equipment, causing nearly […]
In London, Sheep Inc. claims it has designed the world’s first swim trunks made entirely of natural materials. “Simply put: swim shorts until now have always relied on synthetic elements, either in the main fabric, the lining or both,” Sheep Inc co-founder Michael Wessely tells design publication Dezeen. “Even many ‘sustainable’ options use recycled polyester […]
In London, Mosa Meat, a pioneer in cultivated beef, has submitted its first application for market approval in the United Kingdom. The submission focuses on cultivated fat as an ingredient, which can be blended with plant-based ingredients to create “delicious beefy foods” like hamburgers, shepherd’s pie and meatballs. “We are thankful to the Food Standards […]
In London, sustainable materials and fashion brand PANGAIA has launched a new athletic wear line from 100% castor oil-based polyamide. Dubbed PLNT Nylon, the all-black collection includes a jacket, blouson, and track pants. Details like zippers are made from recycled polyethylene terephthalate. PANGAIA recently told hypebeast that the collection is a direct response to the […]
In London, sustainable clothing brand Volleback has made a jacket prototype out of American walnut wood. The brand hopes the jacket will show that wood has the potential to be a viable option for manufacturing clothes. “Wood is one of the most abundant building materials on the planet and it has been since the beginning of […]
In London, Researchers from King’s College London, Swansea University, and collaborators in Chile has developed a self-healing roads concept that leverages biobased spores. Specifically, the discovery addresses the pervasive issue of potholes, which cost U.S. drivers approximately $3 billion annually. The method involves organisms that reverse cracking in bitumen, the sticky substance used in asphalt […]
In London, biotech startup Modern Synthesis has raised $5.5 million to commercialize microbially-derived biomaterials. Modern Synthesis transforms nanocellulose into durable, high-quality alternatives to animal leather, vegan leather, and plastic-based coated textiles. The company’s scalable, proprietary process leverages advanced material science to build upon the innate strength and versatility of nanocellulose, a naturally derived polymer which […]
In London, a sustainable sequins start-up has achieved the world’s first fully biodegradable sequins produced at scale. Founded by Claire Lichfield during the pandemic as part of R&D project Bodici, Sequinova aims to help the fashion industry replace sequins, a source of microplastic waste, with a sustainable alternative. Sequinova’s cellulose-based sequins decompose in freshwater within […]
In London, clothing brand Vollebak has partnered with Japan’s Spiber, a company using molecular engineering to create biomaterial similar to spider silk, to create a 2024 line that includes a sweater, beanie and scarf. The process begins with yeast, which is cultivated to produce a unique biofabric that mimics the properties of wool. Once the […]
