In New York, two designers and a Fashion Institute of Technology professor have essentially grown a sneaker in a lab. The shoes are made from a leather-like material composed of nanofibers of cellulose assembled by bacteria. Other sneaker features include a cork sole, natural dyes—including a black dye made from rusty nails and acacia tree […]
In Singapore, regulatory authorities have approved the sale of cell-based meat, becoming the first country to do so. After extensive testing and review, The Singapore Food Agency has approved the sale of Eat Just’s cultured chicken nuggets. The Agency studied chicken samples from 20 production runs and found Eat Just proved its product met Singapore’s […]
In Hong Kong, cultivated fish startup Avant Meats has raised $3.1 million for R&D and commercialization of its products, including Chinese delicacies fish maw and sea cucumber. The company held its first taste test for maw, a species that has been fished to near-extinction, in November of last year, and has also previewed a cultivated […]
In Paris, the European Space Agency has released the blueprint for at-home 3D printers to produce their own miniature Rosalind Franklin ExoMars rover at home using bioplastic. The ExoMy rover stands at 16 inches—scaled down from 78-inch tall version that will actually roam Mars beginning in 2023. It will take about two weeks for space […]
In Germany, Gleistein Ropes has announced it will shift its ropes currently produced using DSM’s Dyneema-brand ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene fibers to the biobased version of the UHMWPE material. “These fibers possess exactly the same trusted strength and reliability of their conventionally sourced counterparts, yet contribute substantially to climate protection due to their renewable, bio-based raw material,” […]
In Austin, Texas, organic grocer Whole Foods has launched a biodegradable electric toothbrush head made from cornstarch. Dubbed Plus Ultra, the replacement heads will be available for the popular Philips Sonicare and Oral B electric toothbrushes this month and Spring 2021, respectively. They will be sold at 3,000-plus Whole Foods locations and online at LivePlusUltra.com […]
In Malaysia, a shoe company and baby care brand have partnered to bring biodegradable face masks made of coffee waste to the local market. The masks are meant to serve as an eco-friendlier personal protective equipment option against the spread of COVID-19. Local infant retailer Offspring, Inc will sell the reusable, three-layer masks for RM79 […]
In the United Kingdom, baby care brand Huggies has introduced baby wipes that biodegrade after just 15 days under landfill conditions. Huggies Pure Biodegradable wipes, made from natural fibers, are 100% plastic free and the brand’s first biodegradable product. They will be available at UK Asda and Morrison stores. “We know this announcement will be […]
In Alabama, German specialty chemicals company Evonik has acquired a line of biomaterials from Birmingham’s DURECT Corporation for $15 million. The LACTEL Absorbable Polymers portfolio is comprised of biodegradable, PLGA-based polymers used in drug delivery, tissue engineering, and 3D printing of implantable medical devices. The business will be integrated into Evonik’s Health Care business. “The […]
In San Francisco, animal-free cheesemaker Change Foods has raised $875,000 in an oversubscribed, pre-seed funding round, according to Green Queen. The company had initially targeted $600,000. Proceeds will be used to create Change Foods’ first prototype with the look, taste, and cooking consistency of dairy-based products. The company says its alternative cheese is better than […]
