In California, Orbillion Bio, a startup targeting lab-grown replacements for foodie cuts of meat like bison, elk and Wagyu beef, has raised $5 million. The oversubscribed seed funding round included At One Ventures, k16 ventures, and FoundersX Ventures. The funds will be used to build a pilot production unit to culture Wagyu beef, a highly […]
In Chicago, tennis giant Wilson has manufactured 422 rackets incorporating algae-based plastic and solvent-free coatings. Called the Naked series, each racket is priced at $499. Available models include the Blade 98 (16×19), Clash 100, Pro Staff 97 and Ultra 100. Wilson will also donate $20,000 to sustainable apparel brand tentree—so named because it plants ten […]
In California, classic skater sneaker brand Vans has committed to making 100% of its core materials regenerative, responsibly sourced, renewable or recycled by 2030. The company’s plans include piloting and scaling regenerative agriculture practices on farms and ranches that produce rubber, cotton, and leather; exploring biobased alternatives with lower carbon footprints than traditional petroleum-based synthetic […]
In California, synthetic biology firm Zymergen has raised $500 million in an initial public offering. Shares began trading Thursday on Nasdaq under the ticker ZY. The company sold 16.1 million shares at $31/share, giving it an enterprise value of $3.2 billion. The company had expected to sell 13.6 million shares for $28-$31/share. The company reported […]
In Poland, a Poznan-based startup has launched biodegradable coffee and tea cups that also contain tree seeds. The company, dubbed Picup, says its cups are the first for hot beverages that are 100% biodegradable and plantable. The leftover coffee grounds or tea leaves become a natural fertilizer for the heat-resistant seeds. Conventional disposable cups for […]
In North America, a coalition of biobased investors and capital market participants has announced it will deploy $1 billion in capital to support infrastructure and manufacturing within designated Bioeconomy Development Opportunity Zones. BDO zones are located in areas of the United States and Canada that have access to large amounts of surplus biomass and infrastructure […]
In Alabama, a venture capital firm and a nonprofit research organization have founded a biobased chemicals company. Dubbed Trillium Renewable Chemicals, the company will leverage funding from Belgium’s Capricorn Partners and acrylonitrile production process technology licensed from Southern Research. Acrylonitrile and its derivatives are found in many consumer and industrial goods like clothing, toys, car […]
In Singapore, lab-grown meat has scored another world’s first: home delivery. Cultured chicken from Eat Just, which in recent months nabbed both the world’s first regulatory approval for lab-grown meat as well as the world’s first restaurant sale, is now available for delivery from trendy Singaporean restaurant 1880 through the city’s Foodpanda app. Currently available […]
In Israel, cultured milk producer BioMilk has gone public on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, raising NIS 30 million (US$9.3 million). Founded in 2018, BioMilk company is developing both cow milk as well as breast milk, including immune-boosting carbohydrates. In February, BioMilk completed a merger with publicly traded shell company Fantasy Network, a publicly-traded […]
In California, Mattel has vowed that its popular Matchbox cars will be made from 100% recycled, recyclable or biobased materials by 2030. In addition to new materials, Mattel will also design the cars to reflect the shift to more sustainable mobility. Electric and hybrid vehicle models will be added to the fun-size fleet, as well […]
