In the Netherlands, a Technical University of Delft researcher has taken the green funeral trend to the next level with a mycelium coffin. Dubbed Living Cocoon, Bob Hendrikx says the mycelium vessel helps compost the body and remove toxins from soil. Each coffin takes a week to grow, and two to three years to break […]
In Switzerland, sneaker brand On is poised to launch a subscription-only model for its fully recyclable Cyclon running shoes. Made from castor beans, the model ensures the sneakers go back to the company for processing. The shoes will become available starting in fall 2021 for $29.99 per month, and will not be available for purchase […]
In London, sustainable clothing brand Pangaia has launched zero-waste sneakers made from grapes and recycled rubber. The company used 6.5 billion liters of grape waste—including stalks, skin and seeds—from Italy’s wineries to generate the leather replacement. The shoes also feature a 100% recycled rubber sole, cotton laces with recycled plastic aglet, and biobased glue. Pangaia […]
In Vancouver, design publication Yanko Design celebrated World Bamboo Day by highlighting the material’s versatility with a list of the top bamboo products for eco-conscious consumers. According to the online magazine, bamboo’s tensile strength, flexibility, lightweight, cost-effectiveness, and durability make it ideal for countless applications. The list includes the Everloop Toothbrush that features bamboo bristles […]
In Germany, researchers at the Goethe University Frankfurt and PlastX have found that bioplastics contain toxic chemicals similar to those found in petrochemical plastics. The team investigated 43 biodegradable and biobased products, including wine corks, drinking bottles, chocolate packaging, and disposable tableware. Analysis showed that 80% of products contained over a thousand chemical substances. “Three-quarters […]
In Singapore, development of plant-based and cell-cultured food is accelerating as the COVID-19 pandemic draws into sharp relief both the impact of climate change and the small nation’s overreliance on food imports. Currently, approximately 90% of Singapore’s food has to be imported. The country aims to cut this to less than 30% by 2030. Local […]
In Israel, plant-based food coloring firm Phytolon has raised $4.1 million to advance products to market and support collaborations with potential clients. Founded in 2018 by Halim Jubran and Tal Zeltzer—now CEO and CTO—Phytolon uses technology licensed from Weizmann Institute of Science. Investors include Millennium Food-Tech, EIT Food, Trendlines Group, former CEO of Elbit Systems […]
In Sioux City, Nebraska, starch products company Ingredion, Inc. has inaugurated a protein isolates manufacturing facility. The proteins are used for nutrition, health, and wellness products. “We’re excited to take this next step to further advance our specialties strategy and capitalize on the global trends shaping the food industry,” says James P. Zallie, president and […]
In Japan, cell culture products company IntegriCulture has been awarded a ¥240 million ($2.2 million) government grant to build a commercial bioreactor facility. Founded by Yuki Hanyu in 2015, IntegriCulture’s first product was a cell-culture foie gras. The company says its next product will be a cultured serum for cosmetics—set to launch in spring—followed by […]
In Israel, 3-D printed steak startup Meat-Tech 3D Ltd. is planning to buy an unnamed cultured fat company for $17.5 million and plans to list soon on the Nasdaq. Meat-Tech 3D Ltd. uses in-vitro cells to produce cultured meat using 3D printing. The acquisition will help the company “[print] the complete steak in the laboratory […]
