In Georgia, Yamaha Marine U.S. will use plant-derived cellulose nanofiber (CNF) reinforced resin in the manufacture of select parts for watercrafts, including sport boat engines, beginning in 2024. CNF reinforced resin is a new high-strength material manufactured by kneading and dispersing CNF, a biomass material made from wood resources, into resins such as polypropylene. The […]
In Minnesota, synthetic biology firm Calyxt, Inc., has completed the first phase of a research collaboration aimed at developing a soybean capable of producing an oil capable of replacing palm oil in commercial applications. The collaboration with an unnamed, leading global food ingredient manufacturer based in Asia leverages Calyxt’s proprietary PlantSpring™ platform for engineering plant […]
In San Francisco, plant-based fur developer BioFluff has raised $500,000 in pre-seed funding. Participants included SOSV/IndieBio fund, Joyance partners, and Ataraxia Partners Limited. The funds will help the startup bring its first product to market next year, in collaboration with an unnamed, Paris-based fashion client. According to the company’s website, BioFluff is the first 100% […]
In Minneapolis, iconic shoe brand and penny loafer inventor G.H. Bass has produced two versions of its Weejun loafer using cactus leather. Manufactured by Desserto, the material was launched in 2020 and has already attracted interest from BMW, Givenchy, and Everlane. Desserto also recently signed a distribution agreement with fast fashion mainstay H&M, vegconomist reports. […]
In Brooklyn, Tarform has launched an electric motorcycle that incorporates several biobased materials. Dubbed Luna, the bike’s body is made from a flaxseed and biobased resin composite dyed with algae-based pigments. A leather alternative made from either pineapple, mango, or corn is used for the Luna’s seat, and recycled aluminum is used for its frame. […]
In the United Kingdom, a theater group’s giant cardboard Trojan Horse has broken the Guinness World Record for the country’s largest cardboard sculpture. Assembled by 180 volunteers for Animated Object’s “illumination event” production—The Odyssey: An Epic Adventure on the Yorkshire Coast—the horse weighs over 1.5 tons, presumably without any soldiers inside. The 99% biodegradable prop […]
In Germany, Playmobil will soon expand its Wiltopia bioplastic range of play sets to include a Tropical Jungle Playground and a Paddling Tour with River Dolphins. Set to launch in 2023, the new sets come after Playmobil’s first bioplastic toy offering—an animal-themed playset—continues to collect accolades. The set has been named 2022’s most successful sustainable […]
In the Netherlands, Be Good Friends and TotalEnergies Corbion have formally entered into a long-term collaborative arrangement for application development and supply of TotalEnergies Corbion’s Luminy® PLA [polylactic acid]. BGF recently launched a single-use, 100% biobased and biodegradable noodle cup in South Korea. The foamed cup is the result of a joint development and uses […]
In Dubai, design consortium/incubator and registered “FabLab” Tashkeel showcased furniture made from date waste and a floor lamp made from fish scales at Dubai Design Week. The exhibit is part of Tashkeel’s Taween program, which selects emerging designers from the United Arab Emirates. This year’s group focused on novel materials. Designs included a table made […]
In Amsterdam, Biotic has raised €2 million in a seed round that the bioplastics startup will use to build a plant, optimize processes, and increase production capacity. Biotic’s poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) thermoplastic polymers fit a wide range of plastic applications, from flexible to ruggedized, and are produced using macroalgae as feedstock. Macroalgae can be naturally grown in […]
