In Denmark, Natural Material Studio has designed an entire home interior, including dining room, lounge, and bedroom, using bioplastic. Dubbed Utopia, the installation uses the studio’s Procel bioplastic and was on display during Copenhagen’s recent 3 Days of Design festival. “[Utopia] has for sure been the most challenging [installation] to date due to the complexity […]
In Brazil, a precision fermentation startup developing milk proteins without cows, is set to begin scaling production. Founded in 2023 by entrepreneur Leonardo Vieira and food scientist Rosana Goldbeck, Future Cow is supported by a $150,000 initial investment from São Paulo’s Antler residency program, which was followed by a R$2 million (US$410,000) funding led by […]
In Thailand, researchers at Mahidol University have converted waste pineapple leaves into a leather alternative stronger than polyurethane. The material is made by extracting the leaves’ fibers, half of which are subsequently treated with sodium hydroxide. The fibers are then made into non-woven sheets coated with natural rubber latex. The sheets are then heated, compressed, […]
In Denmark, researchers at the University of Copenhagen have developed a new, 100% biodegradable bioplastic from barley starch and sugarbeet waste. The team within the university’s Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences claim the new bioplastic biodegrades in just two months and could be used for food packaging, among other applications. “We have an enormous […]
In Chicago, New Energy Blue and ARCO/Murray have partnered to build out the New Energy Biomass Refinery platform across the American Midwest. ARCO/Murray will construct the flagship New Energy Freedom biomass refinery in Mason City, IA to process corn stalks into second-generation fuel ethanol and clean lignin at commercial capacity. The construction contract is worth […]
In Vancouver, good natured Products Inc., a manufacturer of biobased plastic extrusion and plant-based products, has closed its previously announced non-brokered private placement offering worth just under $1 million. The company issued a total of 15,639,998 units at $0.06 per unit for a total raise of $938,000. Each unit consisted of one common share in […]
In New York, America’s most famous competitive eater will be excluded from Nathan’s Fourth of July hot dog-eating contest for daring to endorse a plant-based hot dog. Joey Chestnut told the New York Post he is “gutted” by the ban, which stems from his agreement to represent Impossible Foods’ vegan alternative. “I love competing in […]
In London, designer Maca Barrera has introduced a new concept in sun protection: clothing infused with melanin produced through fermentation. Melanin is a sun-protecting protein found in skin. Barrera’s Melwear envisions apparel that acts as a second skin and could replace chemical sunscreens. While her final design project at Central Saint Martins didn’t include a […]
In Brooklyn, the world’s tallest modular building is incorporating “living space modules” made out of natural materials 3D printed by a joint project between researchers at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the University of Maine. They hope the SM2ART Nfloor cassette panels could one day replace traditional surface assemblies in multistory […]
In Thailand, Braskem Siam Co., Ltd. has received approval from the Thailand Board of Investment for a 19.3 billion baht ($526 million), 200,000 tons/year biobased ethylene plant. The project will convert ethanol produced using agricultural products such as sugarcane, cassava, and corn as feedstock. Braskem Siam, a joint venture between leading biopolymer producer Braskem and […]
