In Slovakia, German specialty chemical company Evonik Industries is planning to build the world’s first industrial-scale plant for rhamnolipids, which are used as biosurfactants in shower gels and detergents. The “three-digit-million euro” investment at Slovenská Ľupča supports a strategic partnership between Evonik and consumer goods giant Unilever that was announced in 2019. Unilever has set […]
In San Francisco, mycelium materials firm MycoWorks has raised $125 million in a series C financing, which it will use to expand production of leather alternatives for the fashion industry. The company says it will build a plant in Union County, South Carolina, having validated the scalability of its Fine Mycelium process at a pilot […]
In Germany, researchers are testing whether 3D-printed skin cells could work for wound care on long space voyages. The German Space Agency’s Bioprint FirstAid Handheld Bioprinter combines astronaut cells and biobased ink to create a plaster-like covering that can be applied directly to wounds. The device, which is small and manual, was included on […]
In India, The Vazhakkulam Agro and Fruit Processing Company will soon begin producing cutlery and plates from pineapple leaves. A joint venture owned by Kerala state and pineapple farmers, VAFPC has received ₹2.55 crore (US$343,000) from the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana, a government scheme for developing India’s agricultural industries, for the project. Indian Institute of […]
In Switzerland, provocative installation artist Christoph Büchel will convert his unsold work and DNA extracted from his own feces into lab-grown diamonds. The ongoing performance piece, dubbed The Diamond Maker – the Estate, will last for the rest of his life, and Büchel expects to make 150 such diamonds in 2022. A Swiss lab will […]
In Switzerland, recent ECAL design school grad Souhaïb Ghanmi had a particularly unusual final project proposal: repurposing bones from the animal processing industry into home electrical sockets and light switches. Called Ecol, Ghanmi says the goal is to limit waste, not generate controversy. “[Bone is as] strong as a stone but easy to carve, like […]
In Germany, the new electronic concept car from Mercedes is jam-packed with biobased materials, including seat cushions made from mushrooms and a leather alternative made from cactus. Dubbed EQXX, other renewable elements include bamboo fiber carpets. The luxury car brand also says the EQXX can do 620 miles on a charge—much farther than any other […]
In France, luxury brand Chanel is launching its first eco-friendly skincare and makeup line. No. 1 de Chanel products are made from up to 97% natural ingredients, including a new extract from the red “Czar” Camellia flower variety that has shown impressive anti-aging benefits for skin. “This flower blooms during the winter and can resist […]
In Wisconsin, a startup is pursuing an alternative route to palm oil, a renewable product used in many applications but associated with catastrophic environmental impacts and unethical labor practices. Founded in 2007 by Tom Jeffries and Tom Kelleher, Xylome is feeding corn sugar to genetically engineered yeasts, which in turn produce microbial oils similar to […]
In Switzerland, a research group has developed an edible, plant-based coating for produce, which a major supermarket chain in the country will soon begin testing. Empa developed the coating at its Cellulose & Wood Materials Library by converting pomace—what is left after juice is extracted from fruits and vegetables—into a cellulose fiber that can be […]
