Category: Chemicals & Materials

Technip Energies acquires process technology leader Processium

Technip Energies acquires process technology leader Processium

July 10, 2023 |

In France, Technip Energies has acquired Processium, a leader in process development with laboratory and piloting facilities located in Lyon. The deal will help Technip accelerate the development of new processes and technologies by adding specific competencies in reactor design, scale-up, downstream purification and processing know-how.  “We are very excited by this opportunity to leverage […]

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Regulators approve Croda’s acquisition of beauty care ingredient maker Solus Biotech

Regulators approve Croda’s acquisition of beauty care ingredient maker Solus Biotech

July 10, 2023 |

In the United Kingdom, Croda International Plc has received approval from the South Korean regulatory authorities to acquire Solus Biotech, a global leader in biotechnology-derived active ingredients for beauty care and pharmaceuticals, from Solus Advanced Materials. The acquisition gives Croda access to Solus’ existing biotech-derived ceramide and phospholipid technologies and its emerging capabilities in natural […]

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Fungi fail: Bolt Threads halts production of mycelium leather

Fungi fail: Bolt Threads halts production of mycelium leather

July 3, 2023 |

In Emeryville, California, Bolt Threads has ceased production of its leather alternative Mylo after running out of funds. The news, conveyed by Bolt Threads’ CEO Dan Widmaier to Vogue Business, comes despite the company attracting keen interest from major brands like Stella McCartney, Kering and Adidas. According to Widmaier, funding for Mylo was “devastatingly close” […]

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Tempura tech: San Fran restaurant serves cultivated chicken from Upside Foods

Tempura tech: San Fran restaurant serves cultivated chicken from Upside Foods

July 3, 2023 |

In San Francisco, a few lucky taste testers won a contest to be among the first in America to eat cultivated chicken at a restaurant.  After paying a symbolic $1, winners of an Upside Foods social media contest dined on the lab-grown delicacy, which was served tempura-ed with burnt chili aioli, at Bar Crenn. Notably, […]

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Wood toilet maker Woodio raises €16.3 million

Wood toilet maker Woodio raises €16.3 million

July 3, 2023 |

In Finland, interior design maker Woodio, which recently attracted interest in the design world for a wood composite toilet—has raised €16.2 million to fund its international expansion. The funding round was led by UB Forest Industry Green Growth Fund and the European Innovation Council. Previous investors also participated. Woodio uses aspen in chip form and […]

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Origin Materials starts up world’s first CMF plant

Origin Materials starts up world’s first CMF plant

July 3, 2023 |

In Ontario, biobased chemicals producer Origin Materials has announced the startup of Origin 1, which is hailed as the world’s first commercial chloromethyl furfural plant. Using wood residues as feedstock, the Sarnia plant will supply intermediate chemicals and materials to various industries, including clothing, textiles, plastics, packaging, automotive parts, and tires. CMF can be used […]

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BASF and Modern Meadow partner on animal-free leather

BASF and Modern Meadow partner on animal-free leather

July 3, 2023 |

In Germany, Modern Meadow and BASF have partnered to develop an animal-free material that looks, feels and naturally ages like traditional leather, suede, or chamois. The material, known as Bio-VERA™, has been engineered by Modern Meadow and incorporates BASF’s Ultramid® Ccycled® solution using post-consumer waste and bio-renewable technologies.  The resulting material offers luxurious aesthetics and […]

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New IFF platform enables biopolymer “fine-tuning”

New IFF platform enables biopolymer “fine-tuning”

July 3, 2023 |

In New York, International Flavors & Fragrances has introduced a technology platform that enables the development of biobased materials on a large scale and addresses growing demand for environmentally-friendly, high-performance biopolymers. Using The Designed Enzymatic Biomaterials technology allows scientists to integrate the functionalities of petroleum-based polymers directly into biopolymer materials and to customize and fine-tune […]

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Climate Chronicle: Bioprinted triptych from Auburn U students embodies “eco-anxiety”

Climate Chronicle: Bioprinted triptych from Auburn U students embodies “eco-anxiety”

July 3, 2023 |

In Alabama, graphic design students at Auburn University have experimented with bioprinting living organisms such as baker’s yeast in a bid to raise awareness of climate change. The method, called mycography, involves growing organisms in a darkroom on agar plates. The use of UV light helped the students “draw” the three-part series, which is called […]

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Liberation Labs breaks ground on Indiana biomanufacturing plant

Liberation Labs breaks ground on Indiana biomanufacturing plant

July 3, 2023 |

In Indiana, Liberation Labs has officially broken ground on its inaugural precision fermentation biomanufacturing facility. Sited in Richmond, the facility boasts capacity of 600,000 liters and a fully dedicated downstream process. It is capable of producing biobased proteins and other essential building-block ingredients. “This is a momentous occasion not only for Liberation Labs but for […]

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