In London, designer Maca Barrera has introduced a new concept in sun protection: clothing infused with melanin produced through fermentation. Melanin is a sun-protecting protein found in skin. Barrera’s Melwear envisions apparel that acts as a second skin and could replace chemical sunscreens. While her final design project at Central Saint Martins didn’t include a […]
In Brooklyn, the world’s tallest modular building is incorporating “living space modules” made out of natural materials 3D printed by a joint project between researchers at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the University of Maine. They hope the SM2ART Nfloor cassette panels could one day replace traditional surface assemblies in multistory […]
In Thailand, Braskem Siam Co., Ltd. has received approval from the Thailand Board of Investment for a 19.3 billion baht ($526 million), 200,000 tons/year biobased ethylene plant. The project will convert ethanol produced using agricultural products such as sugarcane, cassava, and corn as feedstock. Braskem Siam, a joint venture between leading biopolymer producer Braskem and […]
In Houston, Solugen has secured a conditional, $213.6-million loan guarantee from the U.S. Department of Energy. The Loan Programs Office funds will support construction of Solugen’s 500,000 square foot organic acids production facility planned for Marshall, MN. The site will deploy Solugen’s Bioforge technology for converting biomass into organic acids for use in wastewater treatment, […]
In France, food multinational Danone, tire maker Michelin, biobased chemicals producer DMC Biotechnologies and Crédit Agricole Centre France have agreed to invest over €16 million ($18.2 million) to build a Biotech Open Platform at Clermont-Ferrand, France. The facility will develop and scale advanced fermentation processes and be located at Michelin’s Parc Cataroux Center for Sustainable […]
In Austria, pulp producer Suzano has agreed to acquire a 15% stake in Lenzing, a global supplier of cellulosic fibers for the textile and non-wovens industry, from B&C. The two shareholders also agreed to form a long-term syndicate that will hold a 52.25% stake in the company. Subject to the closing of the transaction, B&C […]
In the US, BioMADE has issued a call for proposals for food and material innovations with military applications. The Department of Defense manufacturing innovation institute is offering grants ranging from $500,000 to $2 million. BioMade emphasized “innovations in food production that reduce the CO2 footprint of food production at and/or transport to DoD operational environments… […]
In New York, lifestyle media company Green Matters has given sustainable pet parents a comprehensive list of the latest and greatest in sustainable dog and cat toy brands. Renewable materials were heavily featured. The list included Beco Pets, a certified B-Corp using bamboo for pet bowls and natural rubber for toys; Ethical Pet, which manufactures […]
In the Netherlands, Airbus has developed a prototype helicopter nose panel using biobased fibers. The fibers were produced from acrylonitrile that was manufactured using ISCC-certified non-fossil feedstocks—such as wood and food waste, recycled cooking oils or algae—as well as renewable sources of ammonia and propylene. In May, the PioneerLab nose panel was used on an […]
In Barcelona, a coffee shop has been designed with furniture 3D-printed using a material based on coffee waste and common bioplastic polylactic acid. Conceived by LOWPOLY’s Antoni Gaudí, the D·Origen Coffee Shop “exemplifies the sustainable reuse of coffee waste, transforming it into functional design elements,” according to a review on designboom.com. “The architectural vision, inspired […]
