In the Netherlands, a running shoe brand has designed a 100% plant-based sneaker, jumping ahead of larger brands that have introduced athletic shoes that are partially biobased or incorporate recycled materials. Zen Running Club says its trainer boasts a midsole made of sugarcane and algae and an outsole comprised of natural rubber. “The sugarcane is […]
In New York, glasses giant Marchon Eyewear says it has partnered with Eastman Chemical to use Eastman’s renewable acetate in its frames. Trade-named Acetate Renew, the material is 60% biobased and 40% recycled content. It also has a lower carbon footprint than conventional, petrochemical acetate. Scrap from Marchon’s manufacturing of the frames—which can be up […]
In the United Kingdom, spa supplier BC Softwear has introduced 100% biodegradable slippers made from coir, a soft, fuzzy fiber obtained from the outer husk of coconuts. The slippers are available in cream cotton or jute and can be recycled or tossed with food waste. Bamford, a luxury spa chain, has already put in an […]
In Finland, researchers at the University of Turku have created a cyanobacteria biofilm that produced ethylene—a major building block of the chemical industry—for more than a month. The team genetically engineered cyanobacteria Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 to produce ethylene by inserting a gene for ethylene-forming enzyme acquired from Pseudomonas syringae. The only inputs were sunlight […]
In the Netherlands, a student team and an Israel startup have designed and constructed a prototype electric car with numerous biobased elements, including coconut fiber and horsehair seats and a flax chassis. Dubbed Luca, the zero-waste vehicle was designed by TU/ecomotive, a student company at Eindhoven University of Technology, and UBQ, a Tel Aviv-Yafo-based company […]
In Belgium, a dairy technology startup has launched a “bounty hunt” for a fungal strain that can produce milk proteins. Those Vegan Cowboys—the brainchild of plant-based meat company The Vegetarian Butcher—has offered €2.5 million ($2.94 million) for the strain. The company aims to produce cheese other dairy products without the environmental impact and cruelty of […]
In California, major brands have formed a consortium with Bolt Threads to commercialize mycelium-based leather in 2021. Adidas, Stella McCartney, Lululemon and Kering, which owns Gucci, have invested “seven figures” in the material, dubbed Mylo by producer Bolt Threads. Creating a market for the material will accelerate economies of scale, consortium members say. “What we […]
In Australia, Carapac is working to commercialize a process that converts waste crustacean shells from Asia Pacific’s seafood industry into biodegradable, soil-enriching bioplastic films. Kimberly Bolton, CEO of Carapac, tells AUManufacturing the company uses chitosan, extracted from shrimp and crab shells, to make films that biodegrade in 90 days—depositing nutrient nitrogen into the soil in […]
In London, charity Comic Relief says its popular Red Nose Day event will feature plant-based red in 2021 thanks to a write-in environmental campaign by students concerned about plastics waste. The noses given to donors will be made from sugarcane waste product bacassa. The noses will be available in 10 styles, including squirrel, badger, and […]
In India, a potentially game-changing COVID-19 test, named after Indian Sherlock Holmes Feluda, promises accurate results in under 30 minutes using a paper test strip. Produced by Indian conglomerate Tata, Feluda would also be cheaper than conventional tests, coming in at about 500 rupees ($6.75). India’s current testing methods face shortages and long wait times […]
