In California, Visolis has raised $8 million in seed funding to advance its platform, which combines synthetic biology and traditional chemical catalysis to manufacture biobased chemicals. Visolis currently operates facilities in Hayward, CA and Libertyville, IL. It has commercial products and partnerships with leading chemical and skincare brands and has developed methods to produce key […]
In Germany, tech start-up C1 said it has raised growth capital from Maersk Growth, the venture capital arm of A. P. Møller – Maersk to faster scale their catalysis, which will enable the mass production of green methanol without the usual premium paid for sustainably produced methanol. “We are proud to have partnered with the […]
In Belgium, Belgian firm Devan Chemicals said it will launch Purissimo NTL, a biobased and readily biodegradable allergen control technology, at the Heimtextil trade show in Frankfurt this week. The firm said that the new technology is based on the probiotic encapsulation technology and aims to improve the lives of people who suffer from allergies. […]
In Chicago, fast food mainstay McDonald’s is the latest chain to receive pushback from consumers who demand sustainable service items but will not suffer any inconvenience. McDonald’s recently swapped the plastic straw/spoon combo on its popular McFlurry packaging to a paper alternative, but social media is grumbling over the combo serviceware’s performance. “Love a Maccy […]
In New York, singer/songwriter Billie Eilish has worn a corset made from multiple renewable materials on Vogue’s first-ever video cover. The “Bad Guy” and “Ocean Eyes” singer sported a top from Balmain’s spring/summer 2023 collection that is made from paper, tree bark, banana leaf, raffia, wood, and recycled fabrics. In an accompanying article, Eilish discussed […]
In France, an artist calling himself Monsieur Plant has expanded an ongoing sneaker sculpture series using natural materials sourced from the Breton region of France. Following creations such as “sneakerium” and “retro flower sneakers,” his latest work, dubbed “Mushroom Party,” includes five fully plant-based sneakers dotted with growing fungi. “Indeed, fungi fulfill essential ecological roles […]
In Singapore, Steakholder Foods has received a grant to develop 3D-printed structured eel and grouper in collaboration with Umami Meats. Under the terms of the pact, Steakholder Foods will use its newly developed technology for mimicking the flaky texture of cooked fish. The joint project’s first prototype—a structured hybrid grouper product—is expected to be completed […]
In Minnesota, university researchers have developed a catalyst that significantly reduces the cost of producing renewable acrylic acid and acrylates, which are used globally in paints, coatings, and superabsorbent polymers. Låkril Technologies, a startup working to manufacture low-cost renewable acrylic acid and acrylates, has already licensed the catalyst technology from its developers at University of […]
In the UK, flooring company Amtico is now offering partially biobased luxury vinyl tile. Called Amtico Bio, the biobased content of the tiles comes from paper pulp waste, which is converted into ethylene. Amtico Bio’s carbon emissions are 90% lower than conventional vinyl tiles and certified sustainable by independent auditor International Sustainability and Carbon Certification […]
In France, TotalEnergies has agreed to supply styrene produced from pulp industry by-product tall oil to German chemical company LANXESS. The move supports LANXESS’s ambition to make its upstream and downstream supply chains climate neutral by 2050. LANXESS will use the styrene to produce ion exchange resins, which are primarily used to treat wastewater and […]
