In Denmark, precision fermentation firm Biosyntia has closed an €11.5 million (US$11.6 million) Series B funding round that it will use to launch the world’s first biobased vitamin B7. ECBF lead led the funding, with participation from existing investors Sofinnova Partners and Novo Seeds, the early-stage investment and company creation team of Novo Holdings A/S. […]
In California, Lindsey Lohan and sustainable sneaker and clothing brand Allbirds have launched an activewear collection that is a nod to Mean Girls, an icon teen comedy starring Lohan, Rachel McAdams, and Tina Fey. Leaning heavily into pink—which the main characters in the quotable cult classic made a point to wear on Wednesdays—the collection features […]
In Italy, luxury fashion house Gucci has launched its first pet collection, replete with a $7,500 pet bed, $460 poop bag holder, $500 leash, and use of vegan leather and sustainable materials. The 2022 Gucci Pet Collection “infuses the everyday with a magical aura,” according to Gucci’s website. “Unveiled in a colorful, retro-inspired campaign, the […]
In New York, Brooklyn Bridge Park’s Pier 6 dog park has installed soy-based synthetic grass from SYNLawn. Nearby East River Park already features the renewable material on its 30,000 square foot Pier 2. Installed more than ten years ago, the material has held up well—which prompted the new contract, along with pet owners’ desire for […]
In Japan, chemical company Asahi Kasei has released a concept car complete with a bubble top, a seating layout meant to encourage picnics, and sustainable materials. Dubbed AKXY2, the car showcases the conglomerate’s materials expertise and vision for the future of mobility. The bubble-shaped cover rises to allow entry and creates an open space for […]
In Rhode Island, luthier Rachel Rosenkrantz used the pandemic lockdowns to create a line of instruments using alternative biobased materials, such as eggshells, mushrooms, and honeycomb. Originally from France, Rosenkrantz tells ecoRI News she came to the US as an exchange student at Rhode Island School of Design. She hopes her work will help address […]
In Switzerland, tech startup Nothing has unveiled a smart phone that is more environmentally friendly than others on the market. Dubbed Nothing Phone (1), the device features a transparent back designed to invoke nostalgia. “We were inspired by our childhoods, the rush of engaging with our first-ever tech products—like the transparent Gameboy, or even old […]
In Iowa, the US Department of Agriculture is accepting applications for a new pilot program created under President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that aims to support the development of biobased products and increase the use of renewable agricultural materials. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the $10-million program at Dan and Debbie’s Creamery, a family-owned, 120-head […]
In Slovakia, German chemical company Evonik has broken ground on the world’s first commercial production facility for rhamnolipid biosurfactants. Rhamnolipids are 100% biobased and biodegradable surfactants. Their exceptional foam-forming properties make them suitable for use in household cleaners and personal care products like shampoos and micellar waters. Their pleasant taste also enables the formulation of […]
In France, a playfully macabre short film encouraging the consumption of people—specifically, Swedish people, going by the film’s title “Eat a Swede” and tagline “go Swegan”—has won the Entertainment Grand Prix at Cannes Lions festival. Commissioned by the Swedish Food Federation and created by McCann Stockholm, the 18-minute film uses shock value to promote alternative, […]
