In the United Kingdom, discount supermarket chain Aldi has launched paper-based wine bottles for its store-brand vino. Manufactured by FrugalPac, the “Frugal Bottles” are five times lighter than glass wine bottles. Packaging Gateway reports that the bottles are comprised of 94% recycled paperboard and a food-grade pouch. Frugal Bottles are also 100% recyclable. While glass […]
In India, Godavari Biorefineries has begun operations at a new biobased specialty chemicals plant at Sakarwadi, Maharashtra. The Somaiya Group subsidiary says the new plant will produce renewable chemicals such as butanol, ethers, and esters. These products are used in coatings, resins, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, food, and fragrances. CEO Sangeeta Srivastava said the new plant will […]
In the United Kingdom, adventurer Sir David Hempleman-Adams is planning a trans-Atlantic hydrogen open gasket balloon journey to, among other things, collect microbes with potential applications in new medicines, biofuels, bioplastics, and agritech. “Most aeroplanes are all pretty high up in the 30,000 ft (9,144 m) range,” Sir Hempleman-Adams told BBC Wiltshire. “We’ll be flying […]
In Switzerland, QWSTION, a fashion label and producer of the banana fiber fabric Bananatex®, has partnered with luxury fashion brand Balenciaga to launch sneakers made from the material. The banana-based sneakers will be a biobased version of Balenciaga’s popular Triple S design and available in black and beige. “The launch of the iconic Triple S […]
In London, designer Gisung Han has created a biodegradable, potato-based plastic stool infused with wildflower seeds. Dubbed Blooming Decay Stool tells designboom the concept would be ideal campsites or music festivals. “I thought about scenarios where it would be acceptable to use a chair for a limited time,” he said. “The Glastonbury Festival came to […]
In North Carolina, the Bezos Center for Sustainable Protein has launched at North Carolina State University with a mandate to become a biomanufacturing hub for environmentally friendly and affordable dietary proteins. The facility will receive $30 million from the Bezos Earth Fund over five years. The funding comes from $100 million committed by the organization […]
In Australia, researchers at The Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology have developed a stronger and more environmentally friendly concrete using with waste coffee grounds. Concrete is a ubiquitous but also environmentally harmful material. By converting coffee grounds to biochar, the team was able to reduce carbon emissions and create a concrete 30% stronger. The RMIT […]
In San Diego, BASF has sold its Spartec bioenergy enzyme portfolio to Lallemand subsidiaries Danstar Ferment AG and Lallemand Specialties Inc. Terms of the deal, which also includes related technologies in development, were not disclosed. Business activities and associated employees were transferred to Lallemand Biofuels & Distilled Spirits on June 1. LBDS, a leading global […]
In the United Kingdom, University of Sheffield bioplastics spin-out Floreon has secured £250 million (US$320 million) from the Centre for Process Innovation to scale up its polylactic acid bioresin technology. According to Sustainable Plastics, Floreon’s 70-90% plant-based PLA uses corn and sugarcane as feedstock and is stronger than other PLA materials on the market. The […]
In Argentina, major McDonald’s franchisee Arcos Dorados is using a biobased and compostable barrier coating developed by J&J Green Paper in hamburger bags and wrappers. Dubbed JANUS, the coating creates a barrier to grease, water and oxygen when applied to paper for food packaging, like wrap paper, boxes, cups, utensils, K-cups, and straws. The compound […]
