In Massachusetts, Yield10 Bioscience, Inc. has filed for regulatory approval of Camelina sativa varieties that produce seed oil containing essential omega-3 fatty acids eicosatetraenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid. The genetic pathway inserted into the omega-3 Camelina DHA1 line produces oil containing approximately 10% EPA and 10% DHA, closely resembling the omega-3 EPA/DHA fatty acid profile […]
In Canada, yeast-based ingredients maker Lallemand has acquired Evolva, a biotech firm based in Switzerland. The acquisition by Lallemand subsidiary Danstar Ferment AG is valued at around $24 million, with the potential for an additional $11.75 million if certain targets are met, according to vegconomist. Evolva develops yeast-derived ingredients for use in flavors and fragrances, […]
In Japan, researchers at Kyoto University hope to launch the first biodegradable satellite into space in 2024. They hope the use of renewable materials will one day help mitigate the growing problem of space waste. The first satellite—dubbed LignoSat—will be about the size of a coffee mug and incinerate when it reenters Earth’s atmosphere. Favorable […]
In India, noted sand artist Sudarshan Pattnaik has sculpted a massive Santa Claus figure using sand and onions. The structure at Blue Flag Beach in Odisha measures 100 x 20 x 40 feet. Pattnaik told BNN he used onions in addition to sand to emphasize the use of biodegradable materials in art. BNN noted that […]
In New York City, a company known for weighted blankets is highlighting sustainability in addition to comfy-coziness with its latest stress relief pillow. The Hugget Knot Pillow from Bearaby is super huggable and squishable, but also promotes sustainability by using Melofoam, a new Bearaby-developed material made from the sap of rubber trees. The resulting biodegradable […]
In Poland, a startup called EcoBean is repurposing coffee waste into biodegradable products, including flower pots, coffee cups, and straws. According to online sustainability publication Impakter, the 2.25 billion cups of coffee consumed daily creates over half a million metric tons of waste coffee grounds. Most of this waste ends up in landfills and emits […]
In Israel, food tech firm Steakholder Foods has produced 3D-printed vegan eel, a concept it hopes will one day help address overfishing. The prototype was made of plant-based eel, but the company aspires to eventually incorporate cultivated eel to produce a hybrid offering. Eels are a delicacy in Japan but a critically endangered species due […]
In Japan, Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd., Oriental Petrochemical (Taiwan) Co., Ltd., and Marubeni Corporation have partnered to establish a supply chain for biobased purified terephthalic acid. The collaborators hope to use the PTA to produce biobased polyethylene terephthalate, with the first plant starting up in Tawan later this year. Under the terms of the agreement, […]
In Japan, bag and accessory maker Yoshida is using a biobased fiber produced by Toray Industries in its latest line of Tanker bags, which are set for launch in Spring 2024. The fiber—dubbed Ecodear 510—is made from sebacic acid and pentamethylenediamine made from feedstocks castor oil and corn, respectively. Ecodear N510 exhibits heat resistance as […]
In Japan, alternative protein startups Umami United and IntegriCulture have received government funds to help advance product development and scale-up. Tokyo-based Umami, which produces an egg alternative from konjac flour, bittern and wood-eared mushrooms, received $6.5 million. Company CEO Hiroto Yamazaki recently told Green Queen that Umami was in talks with plant-based food makers in […]
