In Colorado, Beyond Plastic and Eco Shot have developed a biobased material to replace petroleum-based polyethylene and polypropylene in shotgun wads. Wads are a critical component of shotgun shells and are discharged before separating from the rest of shell. They are often not retrievable, meaning hunters contribute to plastics waste in water and hunting preserves. […]
In Sweden, Apple has partnered with RISE research institute to develop a biobased foam with applications in packaging, insulation, and lightweight composites. According to RISE, the cellulose foam material has exhibited favorable properties, such as resistance to compression and a uniform and small pore size, which provides “an aesthetically pleasing structure.” The material is also […]
In Germany, Beyond Leather Materials has significantly expanded its capacity to produce Leap, a vegan leather made from European apple waste. Named for LEftover APples, Leap uses waste from apple juice and cider producers. Every square meter of Leap diverts 1.8 kg of apple waste from landfills and lowers waste management costs for the Beyond […]
In Taiwan, Dairen Chemical Corporation has joined The LYCRA Company and Qore in developing biobased LYCRA Fiber, commonly known as spandex. The three companies have signed a letter or intent to convert QIRA, a biobased 1,4-butanediol produced by Qore, into polytetramethylene ether glycol, a precursor to LYCRA fiber. The deal will make Dairen the first […]
In Vietnam, SK Group’s chemical division has broken ground on a VND11.8-trillion ($90.3-million) facility to produce biobased polybutylene adipate terephthalate, polybutylene succinate, and tetrahydrofuran. The new plant at Hai Phong City will produce 70,000 metric tons of PBAT, 59,500 metric tons of PBS, and 6,300 metric tons of THF. PBAT and PBS are bioplastics, while […]
In Singapore, cell-based dairy company TurtleTree has secured its first commercial partnership with Cadence Performance Coffee, a company “dedicated to enhancing overall human performance.” Under the terms of the agreement, Cadence will bring to market a “revolutionary” espresso shot that includes TurtleTree’s lactoferrin (LF+), the world’s first animal-free lactoferrin. Lactoferrin, a protein commonly found in mammalian milk, […]
In Massachusetts, BCC Research has released a report forecasting a “remarkable growth surge” for biobased leather. The study looked at both fully and partly biobased leathers. It also covers innovative raw materials, including cactus, pineapple, cork, and others like mushrooms and grapes, as well as applications, such as shoes, bags, and jackets. The market research […]
In Germany, food tech startup MyriaMeat has emerged from stealth mode to unveil its first cultivated meat offering: pork fillet made without scaffolds or plant proteins. Founded in 2022 by researchers from the University of Göttingen, MyriaMeat’s technology uses pluripotent stem cells and parthenogenetic stem cells to grow functional muscle structures and whole cuts of […]
In the Netherlands, designer Dasha Tsapenko “grew” her wedding dress using mycelium and vintage linen lace sourced from Ukrainian flea markets. “I wanted to combine something traditional and handmade with innovative biotechnology,” she told Specialty Fabrics Review. “The growing process involved literally feeding the lace to the fungi by placing the deconstructed and sterilized lace […]
In Italy, a team from Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia has developed a biodegradable and biocompatible bandage using plant-based materials such as maize, pectin, and soy lecithin. When infused with Vitamin C, the bandage was shown to accelerate healing of superficial burns. Following a burn, the affected area typically undergoes redness and swelling. But excessive inflammation […]
