In New York, actor James Cromwell briefly disrupted a Manhattan Starbucks by gluing his hand to the counter in protest of the popular chain’s policy of charging extra for plant-based milks. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) live-streamed the stunt, which saw Cromwell peel his hand off the counter after about 30 minutes. […]
In the United Kingdom, a cheeky public relations campaign is promoting safe sex among the over 65s by launching veggie-themed condoms in garden centers. The brainchild of ad firm Ogilvy and Relate, a relationship support charity, the condoms are made from natural rubber and biodegrade. The packaging is designed to look like seed packets, featuring […]
In France, tire giant Michelin has launched tires for motorcycling racing that contain several biobased materials, including natural rubber, oil from orange and lemon peels, pine tree resin, and sunflower oil. The tires will debut at MotoE, a European circuit event that only allows electric motorcycles and has named Michelin its sole tire supplier. Michelin […]
In North Carolina, Duke University will soon become the first collegiate field hockey program in the United States to use AstroTurf’s Poligras Tokyo GT biobased turf. Made from sugarcane, the turf will be installed at the school’s Williams Field at Jack Katz Stadium in June as part of a larger renovation project for the school’s […]
In Paris, GFBiochemicals has raised €15 million ($15.8 million) in a Series A funding round and named Mathieu Flamini, company cofounder and former professional soccer player, as its CEO. The funds will help accelerate development of biobased levulinic acid. “GFBiochemicals is tackling one of the planet’s most pressing and yet unrecognized challenges: how we make […]
In Scotland, famed whiskey distiller Macallan has launched a limited edition Fine Cacao whiskey that uses cacao pod waste for its packaging. The single-malt is the second in Macallan’s cacao-inspired collection and boasts a mellower profile than the dark, bittersweet notes of its Rich Cacao predecessor. The libation arose from a collaboration between Macallan Whiskey […]
In Australia, biomaterials startup Nanollose Limited is collaborating with California leather alternative firm von Holzhausen. Under the terms of the agreement, Nanollose will provide von Holzhausen with samples of treated and processed microbial cellulose in various forms for testing as potential alternatives to leather or other materials, either in their initial state or after further […]
In Brussels, major chemical maker Solvay has declared renewable materials and biotechnology a major pillar of future growth. The company, which reported $10.6 billion in sales last year and is among Europe’s largest chemical producers, says the platform will build on its already leading position in biobased products that includes guar, solvents, and vanillin. Its […]
In the Netherlands, a pedestrian bridge made of flax fiber, biobased resin, and polyurethane foam has been constructed in the city of Almere. Led by Eindhoven University of Technology, the project is intended to highlight the potential of flax to replace steel in infrastructure. “The EU’s action plan Bio-Economy Strategy stresses the need for a […]
In Florida, startup Okeanos is launching a packaging alternative from calcium carbonate, a naturally occurring material found in rocks, eggshells, and gastropods. Calcium carbonate has long been used as a filler in packaging, but its use has been limited to small percentages due to processing and density issues, both of which Okeanos claims to have […]
