In Switzerland, an engineering project at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne is envisioning edible drones as a means to increase the payload of life-saving emergency provisions. According to the Institute of Mechanical Engineers, drone cargo is currently limited to 10–30% of overall mass—meaning drone drops of food to the stranded can be […]
In Wales, a young surfer/eco-entrepreneur has developed a prototype surfboard out of mushrooms and coral. Twenty-three-year-old Steve Davies came up with the idea while researching mycelium packaging as part of his master’s program at Cardiff Metropolitan University. He chose coral as a framing material so that if the board becomes lost in the ocean, the […]
In the Netherlands, a producer of biodegradable urns is helping families ensure that their loved ones’ end-of-life journeys “reflect their life philosophy.” Legendurns’ latest offering is made from 99% made from Brewers’ spent grains—a residue from malted barley used to make beer. According to the company, conventional urns often contain heavy metals that cause environmental […]
In Seattle, online retail behemoth amazon has invested an undisclosed sum in bioplastics startup Genecis. Luna Yu founded Genecis at the age of 21 to convert organic waste into biodegradable plastic. The funds were distributed from amazon’s Climate Pledge Fund, which has earmarked $50 million for female-founded and -led climate technology companies through its Female […]
In Washington, DC, the US Department of Agriculture celebrated the inaugural National Bioproducts Day on March 8. The day is intended to highlight organizations and individuals working to improve sustainability within the federal government. A key component of these federal sustainability efforts is USDA’s BioPreferred® Program, which Congress created under the 2002 Farm Bill. USDA […]
In the Netherlands, ubiquitous furniture and housewares brand IKEA is advancing years-long biobased glue development to solidify its environmental goals. By volume, IKEA’s most-used raw material is wood. Usually, the wood in its products is actually a composite held together by glue. This fossil-based glue accounts for 5% of the company’s greenhouse gas emissions. “Almost […]
In Colorado, popular skater shoe brand Vans has launched a new collection designed to embody the brand’s relaxed vibe and appreciation for nature. The Surf VR3 Collection includes an outsole made from natural rubber sourced from farms using agricultural practices designed to promote diversity, enhance water cycles, improve soil health, and sequester carbon from the […]
In Hong Kong, tech multinational Lenovo is reportedly planning to use flax fibers in one of its products. The Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 Gen2 laptop, set to launch this summer, features a woven flax fiber case. According to Forbes, the case is 75% recycled aluminum, bonded with flax “made from 100% agricultural product collected by harvesting […]
In Hyderabad, India, a startup is making building materials, particle board alternatives, acoustic panels and plastics out of cow dung. The (hopefully odor-free) products were recently showcased at the Grand Startup Conclave organized by India’s Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying. “Our ultimate goal for this year is to set up micro-factories across India wherever […]
In Toulouse, France, biotech and green chemistry company PILI has raised $15.8 million to accelerate commercialization and scale-up of its fermentation-based indigo. The funds will be used to set up a demonstration unit to complement an industrial pilot that began operations last year. PILI says several million euros of preorders for its biobased dyes and […]
