Category: Chemicals & Materials

Buzzworthy: MeliBio taps Pow-Bio for AI-driven scaleup

Buzzworthy: MeliBio taps Pow-Bio for AI-driven scaleup

March 25, 2024 |

In Berkely, California, bee-free honey startup MeliBio has partnered with Pow-Bio to use artificial intelligence to scale its precision fermentation process. Founded in 2020, MeliBio already has several products on the market based on its bee-free honey and is hoping biomanufacturing startup Pow.Bio can help accelerate scale-up. “Working with cutting-edge science, particularly that aided by […]

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Backed by A-listers, waste-based packaging firm Cruz Foam boasts scale and eyes new products

Backed by A-listers, waste-based packaging firm Cruz Foam boasts scale and eyes new products

March 25, 2024 |

In Santa Cruz, California, a food waste upcycler backed by A-list investors such as Leonardo DiCaprio and Ashton Kutcher, is already mitigating 17,000 tons of carbon dioxide annually. Made from 70% food waste, Cruz Foam’s product is formulated for cold chain logistics.  By working with Atlantic Packaging, one of the largest private packaging companies in […]

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Algenesis and UC San Diego develop biobased TPU

Algenesis and UC San Diego develop biobased TPU

March 25, 2024 |

In San Diego, University of California San Diego and Algenesis have developed a new biobased thermoplastic urethane to help address pervasive microplastics in the environment. In a study published recently in Scientific Reports, the team proved that tiny plastic particles from their new TPU rapidly biodegraded under home composting conditions. They discovered that even common […]

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AFYREN NEOXY receives milestone payment for AFTER-BIOCHEM consortium

AFYREN NEOXY receives milestone payment for AFTER-BIOCHEM consortium

March 25, 2024 |

In Paris, AFYREN NEOXY has received the third tranche of EU funding to the AFTER-BIOCHEM consortium, which was formed in 2020 to establish value chains that convert renewable and non-food raw material into chemical building blocks. The €3.4 million (US$3.8 million) payment is the third installment of a €20 million grant from the Circular Bio-based […]

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Pope using wheelchair featuring wood from Notre Dame

Pope using wheelchair featuring wood from Notre Dame

March 18, 2024 |

In Vatican City, Pope Francis is solving his mobility issues with a religiously tricked-out wooden wheelchair. Designed by Paul de Livron, the Apollo Wooden Wheelchair is helping the Bishop of Rome adjust to persistent knee pain in places where his popemobile presumably can’t go. The wheelchair uses pieces of wood sourced from Notre-Dame Cathedral and […]

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Meatly makes cultivated cat food, sees good growth paw-tential in pet food

Meatly makes cultivated cat food, sees good growth paw-tential in pet food

March 18, 2024 |

In London, cultivated meat company Meatly has produced the world’s first can of cultivated cat food. Made in collaboration with Omni, a novel protein pet food company also located in the UK, the development is a significant step in Meatly’s B2B plans. Once granted regulatory approval, Meatly expects pet food made from cultivated meat to […]

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Lush cosmetics swaps polluting packaging peanuts for edible puffs

Lush cosmetics swaps polluting packaging peanuts for edible puffs

March 18, 2024 |

In the United Kingdom, a cosmetics retailer credited with popularizing colorful “bath bombs” and unique soaps is using 100% edible packing peanuts instead of Styrofoam for its e-commerce business. Made from vegetable starch, an employee at Lush tells HelloGiggles the packing peanut alternative has a texture similar to cheese puffs and tastes like Pirate’s Booty […]

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Bezos Earth Fund invests $60 million in Bezos Centers for Sustainable Protein

Bezos Earth Fund invests $60 million in Bezos Centers for Sustainable Protein

March 18, 2024 |

In Miami, Bezos Earth Fund has committed an initial $60 million to establish the Bezos Centers for Sustainable Protein. The centers, which are part of the Bezos Earth Fund’s $1 billion commitment for transforming food,  will target major technological barriers to reducing cost, increasing quality, and boosting nutritional benefit of alternative proteins by advancing science […]

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Keurig unveils plant-based coating that will replace its ubiquitous K cup pods

Keurig unveils plant-based coating that will replace its ubiquitous K cup pods

March 18, 2024 |

In Massachusetts, Keurig Dr Pepper has unveiled a more sustainable vision for the future of single-serve coffee pods, which have boomed in popularity thanks to their convenience but are associated with significant plastics waste. Keurig’s vision is based on its K-Rounds™ plastic-free pods, a revolutionary new form of single serve coffee. K-Rounds pods are created […]

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Ecopel unveils Flur, a new plant-based fur

Ecopel unveils Flur, a new plant-based fur

March 18, 2024 |

In Shanghai, biobased textiles company Ecopel has launched a new plant-based and 100% chemical-free material called Flur. The company is currently giving brands a preview of the material and, according to Women’s Wear Daily, expects to scale production this summer ahead of fall runway season. “This is really a revolution for the market, and I […]

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