Author Archive: Rebecca Gendron

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Vegan ice cream Brave Robot uses biotech to produce milk proteins

Vegan ice cream Brave Robot uses biotech to produce milk proteins

August 3, 2020 |

In California, food technology firm Perfect Day has expanded into animal-free dairy ice cream. Dubbed Brave Robot, the company uses genetically modified microflora to produce milk proteins casein and whey. After adding plant fats and other ingredients, the company is able to replicate the taste and consistency of dairy-based ice cream. Flavors include Vanilla, Buttery […]

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Animal-free meat solutions among Israeli food tech finalists

Animal-free meat solutions among Israeli food tech finalists

August 3, 2020 |

In Israel, winners of Calcalist’s Food Innovation contest for best startup working in food technology has named 11 finalists, including a handful of biotech solutions. The finalists include Amai Proteins, founded by Ilan Samish,  who says the company is the first to apply “designer” protein technology to sweeteners, and SavorEat Ltd., a company combining 3D […]

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Fierce and functional: Antiviral jeans that protect you from COVID-19

Fierce and functional: Antiviral jeans that protect you from COVID-19

July 27, 2020 |

In Switzerland, textile company HeiQ is seeing an uptick in interest for its virus-killing technology. Two fashion brands, Warp + Weft and DL1961, have begun using HeiQ’s Viroblock, which imparts sanitizing properties to jeans and creates a germ-resistant surface. Certified 72% biobased, Viroblock is added during the manufacturing process and kills 99.9% of COVID-19 within […]

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Tomato ingredients firm expands to “ketchup” with demand

Tomato ingredients firm expands to “ketchup” with demand

July 27, 2020 |

In New Jersey, Lycored, a company commercializing pigments and health supplements based on lycopene, has invested millions to more than double production. Lycopene is a carotenoid found in tomatoes and other red produce. The investment included a new production facility in Branchburg, New Jersey that will help support expansion into new markets globally. “The expansion […]

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Dutch company set to launch shoe made from wine waste

Dutch company set to launch shoe made from wine waste

July 27, 2020 |

In the Netherlands, footwear company Mercer Amsterdam has announced it will launch a sneaker made from wine waste, recycled polyethylene terephthalate, and algae-based ethylene vinyl acetate. Dubbed W3RD Wine Pack, Mercer Amsterdam partnered with Vegea for the wine waste material. The company says the soft vegan leather is made from the waste skins, stalks, and […]

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Veja to launch another line of vegan sneakers

Veja to launch another line of vegan sneakers

July 27, 2020 |

In France, shoe brand Veja is set to launch a vegan sneaker manufactured using corn waste. Dubbed Urca, the shoe is the next generation of Veja’s V-12 leather trainers. The vegan leather is made from 50% corn waste and waxed canvas, while the laces are organic cotton. The sneakers are part of the company’s fall/winter […]

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Startup develops hand sanitizer with extended COVID-19 protection

Startup develops hand sanitizer with extended COVID-19 protection

July 27, 2020 |

In California, CAGE Bio Inc. says it has discovered a novel hand sanitizer that kills germs on contact and provides more than four hours of protection against COVID-19. The sanitizer contains ethyl alcohol to remove contamination and a proprietary ionic liquid technology comprised of natural compounds—called IonLast—that extends antiviral protection. Conventional hand sanitizers only offer […]

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Designers display wide range of biobased innovations at home goods show

Designers display wide range of biobased innovations at home goods show

July 27, 2020 |

In Germany, a recent trade show has illustrated how “all in” the home goods is on incorporating renewable materials into products. Heimtextil 2020, held in pre-pandemic Frankfurt, featured products manufactured using everything from banana waste to fig bark. Qwstion, headquartered Switzerland, showcased cloth totes made with its Banatex-brand banana-plant fiber, while the Netherland’s Nienk Hoogvliet […]

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Dow, Thong Guan launch biobased cling film in Asia Pacific

Dow, Thong Guan launch biobased cling film in Asia Pacific

July 27, 2020 |

In Singapore, plastics giant Dow and cling-film maker Thong Guan have introduced a biobased polyethylene plastic stretch film for the Asia-Pacific market. Under the terms of their collaboration, Thong Guan will be using Dow’s biobased linear low-density polyethylene resin made from tall oil, a residue of paper production, to produce the Nano Bio range of […]

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Geltor reportedly raises $90 million as investors stay bullish on bioproducts

Geltor reportedly raises $90 million as investors stay bullish on bioproducts

July 27, 2020 |

In California, vegan collagen maker Geltor has reportedly raised $90 million. An individual familiar with the situation revealed the financing to Tech Crunch, but did not identify the lead investor. Geltor’s products allow cosmetics, skincare, and food companies to replace lanolin from wool grease, squalene from shark liver oil, and gelatin from animal byproducts with […]

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