In Germany, auto parts manufacturer Continental has unveiled its most sustainable series tire to date. The UltraContact NXT is up to 32% renewable; materials include natural rubber and resins made from paper and wood industry residues. Silicate obtained from rice husk ash is used to optimize grip. The tire will be available at European tire […]
In Minnesota, bioindustrial manufacturing will soon get a boost from BioMADE and $100 million in funding from the state legislature and Governor Tim Walz. Funds will be earmarked for infrastructure, technologies, and workforce development to advance the bioeconomy. The growth of domestic bioindustrial manufacturing will generate additional employment opportunities through facility construction, transportation services, and […]
In Finland, Herrmans Bike Components has developed bicycle grips made from biobased materials. Called Nucore, the grips are made from plants and vegetable crops grown for industrial use. The switch marks a step toward meeting the company’s climate goals. “Biobased material use is one of the ways we futureproof our product portfolio, and we will […]
In London, a sustainable brand that includes acting powerhouse Leonardo DiCaprio among its investors has unveiled a line of sneakers made from corn-based leather. LØCI tells Plant-Based News the sneakers are equal parts maize waste and recycled polyurethane. Recycled plastic bottles, recycled nylon and brass, cork, bamboo, and natural rubber are also used for different […]
In France, TotalEnergies Corbion has announced that it will not construct a previously announced polylactic acid bioplastics plant at Grandpuits. The announcement “follows a review of the investment case of the project and is in line with the announcements of the company’s shareholders,” TotalEnergies Corbion said in a press statement. The company and its shareholders […]
In the UK, Arda Biomaterials has raised £1.1 million (US$1.4 million) to develop and scale its beer waste-to-leather technology. Arda’s process uses the waste barley grain from the brewing industry to produce a material that can be used in fashion, home goods, and the auto industry. The company was founded in 2022 by Edward TJ […]
In Sweden, sustainable fashion accelerator H&M Foundation has announced the winners of its Global Challenge Awards, which include several companies making textiles from renewable sources. Winners include Algreen, a London startup converting food waste into polyurethane for foams appropriate for shoes and fabric coatings; Alt Tex, which uses food waste to produce polymers that can […]
In New York, mycelium materials company Ecovative Design has raised $30 million in a Series E financing. Half of the funds will be used by its plant-based foods subsidiary, MyForest Foods Co., and the other half will support Ecovative’s plans to scale its Forager business into a world-class supplier of sustainable textile and foam products. […]
In Brazil, Reuters reports that Unipar Carbocloro has made a non-binding offer to conglomerate Novonor to acquire a controlling stake in Braskem. Citing a securities filing, Reuters notes that the Unipar proposal also includes the possibility of Novonor continuing to hold an indirect minority stake in the petrochemical firm. Participation by Petrobras, which holds 47.0% […]
In Germany, chemicals giant BASF has announced plans to expand capacity for biobased alkyl polyglucosides in Bangpakong, Thailand and Cincinnati, OH. APGs are secondary surfactants derived from 100% renewable feedstocks. The non-ionic surfactants are widely used in different applications within personal care, home care, industrial & institutional cleaning, industrial formulations and agriculture markets. “Both our […]
