In London, Studio Arp has unveiled its innovative “Citrus Sinensis” project, which features a leather-like material crafted from repurposed orange peels. Conceived by interdisciplinary designer Alkesh Parmar, the project highlights sustainable materials that blend traditional craftsmanship with low-tech processes. Citrus Sinensis includes pendant lamps and various artworks that reflect themes of migration and decentralized design. […]
In London, a student pursuing a master’s degree in bio-integrated design has developed cyanobacterial building panels that capture carbon. The idea came to University of London student Prantar Tamuli during the COVID-19 lockdown. Dubbed C-ELM—short for Cyanobacterial Engineered Living Material—the panels are a step closer to reality after being featured in an art installation at […]
In London, designer Maca Barrera has introduced a new concept in sun protection: clothing infused with melanin produced through fermentation. Melanin is a sun-protecting protein found in skin. Barrera’s Melwear envisions apparel that acts as a second skin and could replace chemical sunscreens. While her final design project at Central Saint Martins didn’t include a […]
In London, designer Gisung Han has created a biodegradable, potato-based plastic stool infused with wildflower seeds. Dubbed Blooming Decay Stool tells designboom the concept would be ideal campsites or music festivals. “I thought about scenarios where it would be acceptable to use a chair for a limited time,” he said. “The Glastonbury Festival came to […]
In London, PETA has recognized several fashion houses for their efforts to use biobased and cruelty-free materials in their clothing and accessories. Ganni won trendsetter of the year for a jacket made out of a biomaterial produced by Polybion. The Danish fashion brand was also recognized for its work with plant leather innovator, Ohoskin. MoEa […]
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 […]
In London, a startup producing a leather alternative using spent grains from local beer brewers hopes to launch its first product later this year. Founded in 2022 by vegetarians Brett Cotten and Edward Mitchell, Arda Biomaterials gathers its feedstock from the Bermondsey Beer Mile, so named for its copious number breweries and beer bars. The […]
In London, minimalist, “barefoot-style” shoe brand Vivobarefoot has unveiled a compostable sneaker prototype that is 3D printed using a biobased thermoplastic. The company told design publication dezeen the shoe is a “scan-to-print-to-soil” solution to the waste associated with sneaker production. Customers simply scan their feet with a smartphone, after which Vivobarefoot 3D-prints a bespoke sneaker. […]
In London, a startup is creating performance materials from an unlikely source: the “beards” mussels extend outside of their shells to stay anchored. Seastex sees the plastic-like fibers—also known as byssus—as an especially promising source of biobased materials because it does not compete with food. The company gets the material from mussels cultivated for human […]
In London, a toothbrush brand endorsed by actress-turned-lifestyle-guru Gwenyth Paltrow is targeting circular and biobased materials to counter the 4 billion non-biodegradable toothbrushes that end up in landfills each year. SURI toothbrushes feature plant-based heads and bristles and an aluminum body that can be repaired for extended use. The toothbrush’s are made from castor oil […]
