Category: Chemicals & Materials

Braskem and Sojitz aim to build three biobased MEG and PET plants

Braskem and Sojitz aim to build three biobased MEG and PET plants

March 28, 2022 |

In Brazil, Braskem and Sojitz Corporation have partnered to produce biobased monoethylene glycol and monopropylene glycol. Subject to the conclusion of technology development in 2022, the business plan includes the construction of three industrial units, with the startup of the first plant in 2025.  The joint venture will combine Braskem’s expertise in the industrial production […]

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Fa-brew-less idea: Dutch company to repurpose coffee grounds

Fa-brew-less idea: Dutch company to repurpose coffee grounds

March 28, 2022 |

In Amsterdam, Caffe Inc. is building a $4.4 million refinery to convert used coffee grounds into oils that can be used in personal care products like creams and shampoos, blocks that can be used in construction, and colorants for multiple commercial uses.  Once operational, cofounders Josephine Nijstad and Evaluna Marquez expect the operations to reduce […]

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Natalie Portman invests in alternative meat  

Natalie Portman invests in alternative meat  

March 28, 2022 |

In Boston, a startup pursuing whole-cut meats from plants has raised $12 million with participation from actress Natalie Portman.  Formerly named Boston Meats, the company uses technology licensed from Harvard University to spin plant proteins into faux meat that resembles muscle cuts. To date, it has developed beef steaks, pulled pork and chicken breast. The […]

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Let them eat macarons: Animal-free egg whites to debut in demanding baking application

Let them eat macarons: Animal-free egg whites to debut in demanding baking application

March 28, 2022 |

In San Francisco, precision fermentation firm The EVERY Co. has unveiled animal-free egg whites and will soon prove their alternative’s “whipping and gelling” properties versus regular eggs via a partnership with a noted macaron maker.  According to The EVERY Co., EVERY EggWhite has the same height, foam stability, aeration and texture. Chantal Guillon, a San […]

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Bee-free honey maker generates buzz with $7.5 million fundraise

Bee-free honey maker generates buzz with $7.5 million fundraise

March 21, 2022 |

In San Francisco, bee-free honey startup MeliBio has raised $7.5 million to scale and commercialize its technology.  The company uses precision fermentation and plant science to manufacture honey. “We know that science can produce delicious and nutritious honey, which is molecularly identical to traditional honey, at no cost to our precious bees,” says honey industry […]

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Rabbis okay cheeseburgers from cultivated meat

Rabbis okay cheeseburgers from cultivated meat

March 21, 2022 |

In Israel, a group of rabbis has said cheeseburgers made from lab-grown meat is kosher, having determined that the nascent technology does not constitute real meat.   Kosher rules ordinarily prohibits the pairing of any meat and dairy product. World Israel News reports that it was determined that products based on cows’ pre-embryonic cells and grown […]

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Hindu festival of color gets greener

Hindu festival of color gets greener

March 21, 2022 |

In India, this year’s Holi celebrations were as colorful as ever, but at the same time greener, thanks to Phool.co. The Kampur-based startup is converting floral waste into the vibrant gulaal powders festival-goers toss about during the festival to celebrate the arrival of spring.  “Generally, gulaal is made using asbestos even glass all those chemical […]

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German startup targeting cultivated schnitzel by 2025

German startup targeting cultivated schnitzel by 2025

March 21, 2022 |

In Germany, cultivated meat startup Alife Foods hopes to launch a lab-grown version of schnitzel by 2025.  Alife is currently doing “sensory evaluations” for its animal-free schnitzel, which contains cultivated beef, wheat protein, wheat flour, vegetable oil and methylcellulose and was developed in collaboration with Fuchs Group and US-based LabFarmFoods. Notably, Alife is using plant-based […]

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Dell explores dissolvable circuit boards in laptops 

Dell explores dissolvable circuit boards in laptops 

March 21, 2022 |

In Texas, Dell Technologies has launched a prototype laptop featuring biobased components as it looks to increase product content and packaging from recycled or renewable materials as one lever for cutting emissions in half by 2030.  The prototype is part of Concept Luna, a “parallel innovation workstream” with Intel aimed at accelerating circular design in […]

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Genomatica and Asahi Kasei partner on biobased nylon 6,6

Genomatica and Asahi Kasei partner on biobased nylon 6,6

March 21, 2022 |

In San Diego, Genomatica has announced a partnership with Japan’s Asahi Kasei, which aims to use Genomatica’s GENO HMD process to manufacture biobased hexamethylenediamine for production of nylon 6,6 for automotive and electronics industries.  The pact comes shortly after Genomatica announced in January that, together with German chemical company Covestro, it had produced “significant” volumes […]

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