Author Archive: Rebecca Gendron

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KFC expects consumers to flock to chicken substitute

KFC expects consumers to flock to chicken substitute

July 20, 2020 |

In Kentucky, fried chicken mainstay KFC is leaning into plant-based meat substitutes, signing a collaboration in 3D bioprinting and aggressively expanding its Beyond Fried Chicken product to larger markets. TechCrunch notes that the company recently provided its closely guarded 11 herbs and spices to Russia’s 3D Bioprinting Solutions to begin testing whether lab-cultured chicken cells […]

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Into the belly of the beast: Beyond Meat launches in beef-loving Brazil

Into the belly of the beast: Beyond Meat launches in beef-loving Brazil

July 20, 2020 |

In California, plant-based meat trailblazer Beyond Meat has announced plans to expand into Brazil with its Beyond Burger, Beyond Sausage, and Beyond Beef products. “As the third-largest market in the world in terms of animal meat consumption, Brazil offers significant opportunity for plant-based meat adoption,” the company says in a press release. The initial rollout […]

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Green decree: France says all new public buildings must be 50% renewable by 2022

Green decree: France says all new public buildings must be 50% renewable by 2022

July 20, 2020 |

In France, the French government has issued a mandate that half of all materials used to construct new public buildings must be timber or other natural materials by 2022. The sustainability decree is especially important ahead of construction related to Paris hosting the Olympics in 2024.  “We made this commitment for the Olympic Games,” the […]

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Johnny Walker goes green with paper packaging

Johnny Walker goes green with paper packaging

July 20, 2020 |

In the United Kingdom, libations leader Diageo announced it has created paper-based packaging for spirits, which it will roll out for the popular Johnnie Walker brand in early 2021. Developed in partnership with Pilot Lite, the packaging is made entirely from sustainably sourced wood. “We are constantly striving to push the boundaries within sustainable packaging […]

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Spoiler alert: LA company converts expired milk into functional clothing

Spoiler alert: LA company converts expired milk into functional clothing

July 20, 2020 |

In Los Angeles, startup Mi Terro is converting spoiled milk into T-shirts that have functional benefits for skin. The company has developed a protein activation and self-assembly purification technology to extract protein from bacteria in spoiled milk. Dynamic flow shear spinning then spins the clean protein into biodegradable yarn.  The process is the brainchild of […]

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Swedish company introduces electric delivery trucks made of flax

Swedish company introduces electric delivery trucks made of flax

July 20, 2020 |

In Sweden, a vehicle startup hopes to revolutionize urban logistics with a fully electric delivery vehicle boasting numerous biobased elements. Volta Trucks CEO Rob Fowler says every Volta Zero will remove tonnes of CO2 from city atmospheres. “[W]e believe that sustainability is more than just tailpipe emissions, so we have taken an environmental-first approach to […]

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Brooklyn bike shop launches electric motorcycle with flaxseed panels

Brooklyn bike shop launches electric motorcycle with flaxseed panels

July 20, 2020 |

In Brooklyn, Tarform Motorcycles is launching an eco-friendly electric motorcycle with pineapple leather and flaxseed components that at the end of its life can be sent back for recycling. Dubbed Tarform Luna, the $24,000 futuristic motorcycle is more modular than competing bikes, allowing for new functions and alterations after purchase. The battery in particular was […]

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New York shoe brand launches renewable casual sneaker

New York shoe brand launches renewable casual sneaker

July 20, 2020 |

In New York, popular lifestyle shoe company Soludos has launched a sneaker made entirely of natural or recycled materials. Dubbed Yebo, the upper is made from corn extract while the outsole is produced from recycled rubber and cork. “We quite literally searched all over the world for the highest quality ingredients,” the company says in […]

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Thailand boosts biodiesel minimum blending slightly to help absorb palm oil surplus

Thailand boosts biodiesel minimum blending slightly to help absorb palm oil surplus

November 5, 2018 |

In Thailand, the Bangkok Post reports that although the country hasn’t managed to get approval yet for B10 to help absorb its palm oil surplus, the energy ministry has been able to make minor changes to the B7 mandate that will boost demand by 62,000 metric tons per year. The surplus is currently 80,000 tons. […]

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Agrivida closes $20.4-million funding round 

Agrivida closes $20.4-million funding round 

September 11, 2016 |

Agritech company Agrivida has raised $20.4 million in a Series E funding that will be used to commercialize its Grainzyme feed enzyme for poultry and swine as well as develop the product for use in dairy and beef cattle. According to Spencer Swayze of the University of Texas Investment Management Company, which led the round, […]

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