In California, Vans has introduced a vegan line of its iconic skate shoe. Dubbed Eco Theory, the sneakers use natural rubber for soles, organic cotton for uppers and laces made from jute. The sneakers are also lined with cork and made with sustainable inks and glue. Vans says it has made sure all materials are […]
In Finland, adidas has invested €3 million ($3.65 million) in the initial public offering of Spinnova, a company using wood and agricultural waste to make textile fibers. Spinnova raised €58 million, and says Adidas has indicated it wants “significant volumes” of the fiber when available. It is building its first facility in Finland with forestry […]
In Colombia, entrepreneur Héctor Mauricio Páez has developed biodegradable face masks made of cellulose paper with embedded seeds. Dubbed GreenGace, the mask can be planted instead of discarded. The mask itself breaks down in 1-2 months and the seed inside will germinate. The nature of the seeds contained in the masks was not specified. […]
In San Francisco, precision fermentation startup New Culture is targeting late 2023 for the launch of its animal-free mozzarella cheese. The company plans to partner with pizzerias to provide first access to the technology, which involves using fermentation to produce casein, the main protein in milk. Co-founder Matt Gibson tells FoodNavigator that New Culture’s cow-free […]
In Hawaii, algae-based technology company Kuehnle AgroSystems has won an award at the National Atlantic Seafood Forum’s Seafood Innovation Day for its astaxanthin fermentation technology. Kuehnle AgroSystems’s process manufactures astaxanthin for aquafeeds via dark fermentation, which provides higher volumes at lower cost compared to algae production methods using light. Being too scarce to use for […]
In Massachusetts, researchers at Worcester Polytechnic Institute have developed a promising technology for self-repairing concrete. The breakthrough could help cut down on the enormous amount of carbon emissions attributed to construction and infrastructure industries. The key ingredient is carbonic anhydrase, an enzyme that transports CO2 out of human blood so it can be exhaled. “Concrete […]
In Illinois, sustainability-focused cosmetics brand EcoTools has introduced a renewable beauty blender that degrades in 180 days. Beauty blenders have become a staple of makeup routines, particularly as a way to seamlessly blend foundation, concealer, and highlighter used in contouring techniques popularized by the Kardashians and other beauty influencers. Made from water, corn, natural preservative […]
In Portugal, Undo for Tomorrow has launched a crowd-funding campaign for a vegan sneaker comprised of natural materials, including a bamboo lining, a tow cap made of natural rubber, and an insole made from castor oil. Dubbed Nuven, the shoe also incorporates discarded party balloons, rubber tires, and vegan suede from recycled plastic. They are […]
In Switzerland, Delica AG has begun selling coffee capsules made from renewable polypropylene. Produced by chemical giant SABIC, the PP pods can be used with Delica’s Delizio capsule coffee machines. The PP is produced using tall oil, a waste product of the pulp and paper industry. Renewable content is “at least” 65% and can be […]
In China, sporting goods brand Xtep has introduced t-shirts made from polylactic acid in an effort to cut down on the massive environmental footprint of textile and clothing manufacturing. The clothes were made from PLA fiber produced from corn, straw and other starchy crops. The company also produces a PLA windbreaker, adding that it successfully […]
