Biobased polycarbonate breakthrough, seaweed diapers, bamboo toothbrushes, one cow’s manure can power Toyota’s new Mirai hydrogen car and more: The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the week of October 31st

#10 Bio-On execs accused of accounting shenanigans

In Italy, Reuters reports that Bio-On CEO and chairman Marco Astorri has been arrested as part of a probe into alleged false accounting and market manipulation at the bioplastics maker.

Dubbed the “Plastic Bubbles” probe, Astorri was placed under house arrest while cofounder Guido Cicognani and chief auditor Gianfranco Capodaglio are barred from practicing. The prosecutor has seized capital held by company founders and requested management be replaced.

The investigation, which began in July at the request of US-based fund Quintessential Capital Management, found “fictitious transactions” from licensing agreements and false revenues from 2015-2018. Since the accusations began, company worth has tumbled from €1 billion to under €200 million.

Reuters says Bio-On declined to comment.
More on the story, here.