In Berkeley, California, animal-free milk protein producer Perfect Day has closed a $350 million Series D investment round. The company says it will use the funds to expand its focus across biological engineering, ingredient innovation, and consumer products. The round, co-led by Temasek and Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPP Investments), included participation from Disney […]
In Chicago, McDonald has announced that it is phasing out fossil fuel-based plastic from its Happy Meal toys in more than 100 countries as it transitions to mostly recycled and renewable plastics and sustainable fibers by 2025. Specifically, it aims to reduce the use of traditional plastics by 90% compared to 2018. The company is […]
In Sweden, automaker Volvo Cars has declared it will go leather free in its 100% electric cars and will transition away from animal leather completely by 2030. “Being a progressive car maker means we need to address all areas of sustainability, not just CO2 emissions,” said Stuart Templar, director of global sustainability at Volvo Cars, […]
In Colorado, popular boot brand Timberland has announced a new line of shoes featuring a sole with 75% biobased content. Dubbed GreenStride, the soles were in development for a year and a half, and the biobased content can be attributed to renewable sugarcane and natural rubber. The new soles will be available in three styles […]
In Boston, engineers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have created light-emitting, rechargeable plants that are ten times brighter than the light-emitting, rechargeable plants they created in 2017. The researchers say the outside-the-box solution to home lighting could lower your electricity bills, as well as your carbon footprint. “We wanted to create a light-emitting plant […]
In New Zealand, pandemic boredom has led to the creation of the country’s first biodegradable shoe. Orba’s Ghost sneaker, which is 94% plant-based, was conceived last year by Greg Howard during the country’s strict pandemic lockdown. The kicks feature a biobased rubber sole made from natural rubber, rice husk ash and coconut oil. The insoles […]
In France, materials expert Erik de Laurens is turning smelly fish waste into beautiful tiles that resemble marble. Dubbed Scalite, the material is a composite of the collagen polymers that naturally make up fish scales, combined with natural binders and dyes and squeezed together via hydraulic press. Scalite is currently available in 12×12-inch tiles suitable […]
In Hollywood, actor, activist, and model magnet Leonardo DiCaprio has invested in cultured meat startups Mosa Meat and Aleph Farms. Mosa Meat, based in the Netherlands, holds the title for world’s first cell cultured burger, which it achieved in 2013. It has since been working to lower its cost and remove divisive ingredient fetal bovine […]
In the Netherlands, Geneus Biotech and scientists at Wageningen University & Research are working together to develop cell-based caviar. The project, dubbed Magiccaviar, is hoping to find an alternative source for the pricey delicacy pushing the Beluga sturgeon to the brink of extinction. “A closely related sturgeon species is used to develop the methods in […]
In the UK, researchers at the University of Manchester have found that a protein in human blood and an acid in human urine can bind to Mars dust to create a material strong enough to build infrastructure. Dubbed AstroCrete, the macabre material was first conceived when Aled Roberts and his team were working to make […]
