In Japan, researchers at the University of Tokyo have developed a living robot capable of smiling in response to stimuli. The creepy, two-dimensional breakthrough came by growing skin on a humanoid robot. While such robots have been made before, the living portion was attached to the robotic portion in a way caused damage with skin […]
In Singapore, cultivated meat, leather, and cosmetics startup Cellivate Technologies has won the top prize in Channel News Asia’s business reality show, The Big Spark. The company will receive about $3.3 million in funding from venture capital firms, including Antler and Rigel-Farro Capital. “This experience of being on the show has been incredible,” founder Dr. […]
In Germany, specialty chemical company Symrise has launched SymDeo PMD green, a naturally derived deodorizing ingredient for strong body odor protection. The 100% biobased ester demonstrates excellent performance against odor-causing bacteria and also has antifungal effects—making it suitable for foot odor applications. SymDeo PMD green also offers anti-irritant properties for sensitive underarm areas. “Our next-generation […]
In Japan, researchers at Chiba University have converted melanin sourced from cuttlefish ink into a bioplastic. “From a resource perspective, the melanin concentrated in the ink sacs of cuttlefish and squid is easily recoverable natural melanin, said Associate Professor Michinari Kohri from the Graduate School of Engineering, who led the study. “The catch of squid […]
In the UK, sustainable design firm Re:Right Design has created a pavilion for the upcoming Glastonbury performing arts festival that is meant to showcase the potential for bioplastics. Re:Right tells dezeen its Hayes Pavilion is made from an easily compostable seaweed biomaterial that was developed but firm cofounder Leksi Kostur over several years. “Our goal with these […]
In Paris, engineering and technology firm Technip Energies has acquired a glycol purification technology from Shell Catalysts & Technologies that will accelerate commercialization of Technip’s Bio-2-Glycols biobased monoethylene glycol process. MEG is traditionally produced using fossil-based feedstock to make various types of polyesters for packaging materials, such as plastic bottles, and in clothing apparel. By […]
In Finland, researchers at University of Jyväskylä have discovered a biobased antiviral material that can be applied to protective gear and public surfaces to help decrease the spread of viral diseases, especially those caused by coronaviruses. “In our recent study, we found that the viruses stayed infective for more than two days on plastic surfaces […]
In Georgia, AstroTurf Corporation has earned the U.S. Department of Agriculture Certified Biobased Product Label for AstroTurf Rootzone 3D3 Blend GT-B. The product offers grass-like traction, and promotes more consistent footing, and more uniform shock absorption over time. With a more uniform infill level, UV exposure to the fibers is more consistent across the field, […]
In Miami, cultivated meat pioneer UPSIDE Foods is planning a cultivated chicken tasting on June 27, just days before a Florida ban on the product goes into effect. UPSIDE has not disclosed the location, but interested parties can contact media@upsidefoods.com for more information. Mika Leon, a celebrity chef and owner of Caja Caliente, will prepare […]
In Seattle, e-commerce behemoth Amazon has reduced its use of plastic air cushions by a staggering 15 billion by using paper packing filler instead. Testing confirmed the paper filler protected products better than the air cushions, and, because they took up less space, allowed amazon to reduce box size in many instances. Ultimately, the company […]
