Author Archive: Rebecca Gendron

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German startup targeting cultivated schnitzel by 2025

German startup targeting cultivated schnitzel by 2025

March 21, 2022 |

In Germany, cultivated meat startup Alife Foods hopes to launch a lab-grown version of schnitzel by 2025.  Alife is currently doing “sensory evaluations” for its animal-free schnitzel, which contains cultivated beef, wheat protein, wheat flour, vegetable oil and methylcellulose and was developed in collaboration with Fuchs Group and US-based LabFarmFoods. Notably, Alife is using plant-based […]

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Dell explores dissolvable circuit boards in laptops 

Dell explores dissolvable circuit boards in laptops 

March 21, 2022 |

In Texas, Dell Technologies has launched a prototype laptop featuring biobased components as it looks to increase product content and packaging from recycled or renewable materials as one lever for cutting emissions in half by 2030.  The prototype is part of Concept Luna, a “parallel innovation workstream” with Intel aimed at accelerating circular design in […]

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Genomatica and Asahi Kasei partner on biobased nylon 6,6

Genomatica and Asahi Kasei partner on biobased nylon 6,6

March 21, 2022 |

In San Diego, Genomatica has announced a partnership with Japan’s Asahi Kasei, which aims to use Genomatica’s GENO HMD process to manufacture biobased hexamethylenediamine for production of nylon 6,6 for automotive and electronics industries.  The pact comes shortly after Genomatica announced in January that, together with German chemical company Covestro, it had produced “significant” volumes […]

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Plant-based asphalt startup tells carbon to hit the road

Plant-based asphalt startup tells carbon to hit the road

March 21, 2022 |

In Norway, a startup has developed a road repair process that uses recycled asphalt and a proprietary plant-based adhesive that sequesters carbon, offering a greener alternative for the particularly polluting road construction market.  The company—appropriately named Carbon Crusher—starts by grinding up existing asphalt from stretches of road in need of repair. This reduces the emissions […]

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Rice-based resin used to make furniture in Japan

Rice-based resin used to make furniture in Japan

March 21, 2022 |

In Japan, furniture company Meuble has partnered with two chemical companies to develop a resin material from non-edible rice that would otherwise be thrown away.  Dubbed RICEWAVE, the material was conceived when Meuble, Biomass Resin Holdings, and Mitsui & Co Plastics Ltd. set out to create a renewable alternative to polyethylene.  “We have been thinking […]

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Now that’s romantic: Hidden Valley commissions lab-grown diamond from ranch seasoning

Now that’s romantic: Hidden Valley commissions lab-grown diamond from ranch seasoning

March 14, 2022 |

In California, Hidden Valley has unveiled a lab-grown diamond from its ranch seasoning mix. The two-carat stone—conceived to celebrate National Ranch Day on March 10—is being auctioned off to benefit Feeding America.  To create the diamond, geologist Dean VandenBiesen heated ranch seasoning—which is comprised of ingredients like maltodextrin, buttermilk, and dried onion and garlic—to 2,500 […]

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Attention manscapers: Skincare brand eos is collecting pubic hair to fight soil erosion

Attention manscapers: Skincare brand eos is collecting pubic hair to fight soil erosion

March 14, 2022 |

In New York, popular skincare and shaving cream brand eos has put out a public call for pubic hair to aid in the fight against soil erosion.  The campaign—dubbed Pubes For The Planet—evolved out of a partnership between eos, renewable resource organization Matter of Trust, and marketing agency Mischief @ No Fixed Address.  For the […]

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Cactus leather helps costume vegan Vikings: Valhalla star Sam Corbett

Cactus leather helps costume vegan Vikings: Valhalla star Sam Corbett

March 14, 2022 |

In Ireland, costume designers on the set of Netflix hit “Vikings: Valhalla” have swapped out animal leather for a cactus-based alternative for the comfort of vegan cast member Sam Corlett.  In a recent interview, Corlett shared that he found it challenging to wear leather.  “I hadn’t worn leather in a long time,” he said. “The […]

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Designers make Styrofoam alternative from exoskeletons of Styrofoam-eating mealworms

Designers make Styrofoam alternative from exoskeletons of Styrofoam-eating mealworms

March 14, 2022 |

In Brooklyn, Charlotte Böhning and Mary Lempres of design studio doppelgänger have developed a process to convert the exoskeletons of mealworms into an alternative for Styrofoam.  Dubbed chitofoam, the material is lightweight, water resistant and can be used for food packaging or molded into shapes for everyday items like cups and packing peanuts. The solution […]

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Cannabis car retired, was “ahead of [its] time”

Cannabis car retired, was “ahead of [its] time”

March 14, 2022 |

In Florida, the designer of a hemp-based car once featured on TV show Jay Leno’s Garage has wound down the project, and reported just two cars were produced.  Renew Sports Car inventor and former Dell designer Bruce Dietzen tells Autoevolution the idea was “about seven years ahead of [its] time,” although the promise of hemp […]

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