Category: Chemicals & Materials

French Cognac brand debuts flax bottles

French Cognac brand debuts flax bottles

June 13, 2022 |

In France, cognac brand Maison A de Fussigny has debuted a plant-based bottle for its 2050 Organic Cognac.  Weighing just 85 grams, the Green Gen Bottle is made of flax fiber and organically sourced resin. It is also water-soluble and biodegradable.   “We are proud to be the first to use the Green Gen Bottle which […]

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Pangaia launches $395 biofabricated hoodie

Pangaia launches $395 biofabricated hoodie

June 13, 2022 |

In New York, sustainable clothing line PANGAIA has launched a limited-edition sweatshirt made from Spiber’s Brewed Protein fiber and organic cotton.   The hoodie, called NXT Gen, is the first time a sweatshirt made from the fibers will be available globally for purchase. However, just 200 were produced. They are available on pangaia.com with a steep price […]

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GOOD Meat breaks ground on cultivated meat mega-facility

GOOD Meat breaks ground on cultivated meat mega-facility

June 13, 2022 |

In Singapore, GOOD Meat has broken ground on Asia’s largest cultivated meat production facility.  The complex, scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2023 at JTC Bedok Food City, will have the capacity to produce tens of thousands of pounds of slaughter-free meat from cells. The buildout will also house the single-largest bioreactor in […]

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Isiah Thomas trades hoop dreams for hemp

Isiah Thomas trades hoop dreams for hemp

June 6, 2022 |

In Colombia, former NBA star Isaiah Thomas is leading a full-court press against fossil-based plastics as CEO of One World Products, a licensed hemp and cannabis producer.  His plans for the company include opportunities for hemp in the automotive market. “I envision a future where the Fords, the GMs, the Stellantis’ of the world take […]

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US Navy considers weaponizing hagfish slime

US Navy considers weaponizing hagfish slime

June 6, 2022 |

In Florida, researchers at the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Panama are evaluating the use of hagfish slime—a unique goo that can swell to 10,000 times its original size—to clog the propellors of enemy ships.  The creepy creature squirts the slime into the gills of would-be predators.  Just 90 mg of slime can become a […]

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MIT entrepreneur looks to use silk waste to prevent food waste

MIT entrepreneur looks to use silk waste to prevent food waste

June 6, 2022 |

In Boston, a biotech startup called Mori is developing an edible coating that extends the shelf life of food, prevents bacterial contamination, and reduces the need for packaging. Launched by Massachusetts Institute of Technology assistant professor Benedetto Marelli, the technology extracts fibroin from silk industry waste and applies it to everything from vegetables to steaks.  […]

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Corona repurposes barley waste for packaging in India

Corona repurposes barley waste for packaging in India

June 6, 2022 |

In India, Ab InBev’s popular Corona beer brand has switched its cardboard six-pack packaging to waste barley straw.  The new material is as durable as its predecessor but does not require virgin wood. The straw would also otherwise be burned—a widespread practice for agricultural waste that is a key contributor to India’s notoriously poor air […]

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German toymaker rolls out bioplastic, animal-themed playsets

German toymaker rolls out bioplastic, animal-themed playsets

June 6, 2022 |

In Germany, popular toymaker Playmobil has launched a sustainable toy line called Wiltopia that features bioplastic figurines and themes intended to educate children about the environment and animals.  Timed for World Environment Day on June 5, the playsets are comprised of over 80% sustainable materials. The materials include recycled materials in addition to bioplastics.  “Wiltopia […]

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Use those mussels: Invasive Thames River species can be converted to glass

Use those mussels: Invasive Thames River species can be converted to glass

June 6, 2022 |

In London, a materials innovation partnership has developed a technique to turn the shells of an invasive mussel species into glass.  Bureau de Change, an architecture firm, and designer Lulu Harrison are specifically using the shells of freshwater species quagga mussel. Dubbed Thames Glass, the shells are mixed with sand and wood ash to create […]

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Buyer of DuPont’s PTT business finally revealed

Buyer of DuPont’s PTT business finally revealed

June 6, 2022 |

In Delaware, China’s Huafon Group has been named as the buyer of DuPont’s polytrimethylene terephthalate (PTT) business. First announced in October 2020, the $240-million deal includes Sorona, a partially biobased PTT fiber for carpets and fabrics; a biobased 1,3-propanediol asset in Tennessee; and PDO product lines for multiple applications.  Huafon has launched the business as […]

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