Category: Chemicals & Materials

Biobased cosmetics brand touts Holy Grain: Makeup you can sleep in

Biobased cosmetics brand touts Holy Grain: Makeup you can sleep in

July 26, 2021 |

In California, makeup brand Youthforia is solving one of the biggest problems associated with cosmetics: forgetting to wash it off, resulting in days of oily or dry skin. To address this, Fiona Co Chan founded the company during the pandemic.  The company’s products have been certified 98% biobased by the US Department of Agriculture BioPreferred […]

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Stora Enso begins piloting wood-based anode materials

Stora Enso begins piloting wood-based anode materials

July 26, 2021 |

In Finland, forest products maker Stora Enso says its pilot plant for lignin-based battery materials is now online.  Dubbed Lignode, the material is a wood-based carbon that could be used in electric vehicles, consumer electronics, and large-scale energy storage systems. The global battery market is set to grow ten-fold over the next decade.  “With our […]

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Iron Man invests in cheesier vegan cheese startup

Iron Man invests in cheesier vegan cheese startup

July 26, 2021 |

In California, vegan cheese startup Nobell Foods has raised $75 million to tackle perhaps one of the biggest hurdles to adopting a vegan diet: creating a stretchy alternative to cheese.  The key to gooey, cheesy goodness lies in casein, a protein found in dairy products that provides that super satisfying stretch when you separate a […]

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Spun-flax pavilion strong enough to comply with German building codes

Spun-flax pavilion strong enough to comply with German building codes

July 26, 2021 |

In Germany, a multidisciplinary team from the Universities of Freiburg and Stuttgart has created a load-bearing structure using robotically wound flax fiber.  The pavilion, dubbed livMatS, combines 15 components comprised of flax fiber, including a truss structure, corner reinforcements, and structural bracing. It is 100% renewable and weighs one and a half tons. A polycarbonate […]

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Raymond James rates Origin Materials at ‘market perform’: cites ‘limitless market’ but looming technology validation

Raymond James rates Origin Materials at ‘market perform’: cites ‘limitless market’ but looming technology validation

July 24, 2021 |

In New York, investment advisors Raymond James initiated coverage of Origin Materials with a Market Perform rating. Renowned sector analyst Pavel Molchanov wrote that “PET resin alone is a $145 billion market, and penetration of bio-based plastics is sub-1%…bio-based plastics are an important means of decarbonizing the chemical industry. With producers as well as consumers […]

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Biobased lingerie launch is a step forward for sustainable skivvies

Biobased lingerie launch is a step forward for sustainable skivvies

July 19, 2021 |

In the US, undergarment manufacturer Gelmart will soon release a bra with padding made from sugarcane. Vogue Business noted that the sustainable brassiere will be available in August and would be a major step forward for a clothing category that has been at for forefront of tackling inclusivity but has lagged in sustainability performance.  “There’s […]

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Slam Dunk: Plant-based firm secures stadium naming rights

Slam Dunk: Plant-based firm secures stadium naming rights

July 19, 2021 |

In Phoenix, plant-based fiber firm Footprint has reached a naming rights deal for the city’s basketball arena. The stadium is home to both the Phoenix Suns and the Phoenix Mercury and seats 18,000.  Financial terms were not disclosed, but the Footprint Center will increase the use of biodegradable, compostable, and recyclable products in its concessions.  […]

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Rock band partners on vegan makeup set

Rock band partners on vegan makeup set

July 19, 2021 |

In the US, rock band My Chemical Romance has partnered for a second makeup line with vegan cosmetics maker HipDot.  Inspired by the band’s 2010 album, Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys, the set includes eyeliner, primer, and lip gloss. The individual products are named after the band’s stage monikers Party Poison, […]

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BMW invests in vegan leather firm

BMW invests in vegan leather firm

July 19, 2021 |

In Illinois, plant-based leather alternative firm Natural Fiber Welding has received an unspecified investment from BMW i Ventures, the investment arm of BMW.  Dubbed Mirium, Natural Fiber Welding’s material has a carbon footprint 40 times lower than animal leather and 17 times less than polyurethane leather alternatives. BMW has begun using vegan leather in certain […]

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Faux foie gras firm to expand into other poultry products

Faux foie gras firm to expand into other poultry products

July 19, 2021 |

In France, cultured foie gras startup Gourmey has raised $10 million and announced plans to expand into cultured poultries, including duck, chicken and turkey.  The funding was led by Point Nine and Air Street Capital. Heartcore, Partech Bpifrance, and the European Commission also participated.  “Poultry is the most consumed and fastest growing meat on the […]

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