Author Archive: Rebecca Coons

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Zone3 makes wetsuit out of biobased neoprene alternative

Zone3 makes wetsuit out of biobased neoprene alternative

February 26, 2024 |

In the United Kingdom, Zone3 will soon introduce the world’s first biodegradable wetsuit. Made from Terraprene, a  biobased thermoplastic elastomer produced by Germany’s FKuR, the £399 wetsuit is part of Zone3’s Vision line of triathalon gear. Tests have shown that about 30% of the wetsuit breaks down after two years in a landfill. Wetsuits are […]

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Inside scoop: Unilever set to launch chocolate ice cream enabled by precision fermentation

Inside scoop: Unilever set to launch chocolate ice cream enabled by precision fermentation

February 26, 2024 |

In London, Breyers will soon introduce a chocolate ice cream that replaces lactose with a whey protein produced by precision fermentation. The new offering was made possible by a collaboration between Unilever—Breyers parent company—and foodtech startup Perfect Day.  Breyers says the ice cream has the same taste and texture as ice cream made from dairy […]

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Logistics issues force on-the-fly cardboard furniture project by Zaventem Ateliers

Logistics issues force on-the-fly cardboard furniture project by Zaventem Ateliers

February 26, 2024 |

In Mexico, design collective Zaventem Ateliers showed that necessity is truly the mother of invention when customs delays meant it had to recreate most of its Unique Design X exhibition furniture collection from cardboard. Based in Belgium, the collective of eight design studios had to produce 35 furniture items from three square meters of cardboard. […]

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Greener beamer: BMW offers 100% vegan interior for 5 Series model

Greener beamer: BMW offers 100% vegan interior for 5 Series model

February 26, 2024 |

In Germany, luxury carmaker BMW now offers a 100% vegan interior option for its popular 5 Series Touring model. The seats are made from Veganza, an animal-free leather alternative with a lower climate impact. While the feedstock used to produce Veganza was not detailed vegconomist notes that BMW has been active in biobased materials. In […]

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Perstorp starts up biobased pentaerythritol plant

Perstorp starts up biobased pentaerythritol plant

February 26, 2024 |

In India, specialty chemical company Perstorp has brought a new, biobased pentaerythritol and penta chemicals production plant online at Sayakha.  The site has the capacity to annually produce 40,000 metric tons of pentaerythritol and 26,000 metric tons of calcium formate. The plant is the largest Asian investment in Perstorp’s history, Gorm Jensen, Perstorp’s Executive Vice […]

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University of Bath joins biobased buildings material project

University of Bath joins biobased buildings material project

February 26, 2024 |

In the United Kingdom, the University of Bath has joined a European consortium targeting natural and biobased building materials. Dubbed Inbuilt, the group is collaborating to develop 10 biobased materials, including fungus-based insulation, rammed earth blocks, hybrid straw-clay boards, and prefab wall panels made from waste wood. University of Bath joins 15 other institutions and […]

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Danimer scales thermocatalytic PHA production

Danimer scales thermocatalytic PHA production

February 26, 2024 |

In New York, Danimer Scientific has successfully completed expansion of its Rinnovo® bioplastic demonstration plant located in Rochester. Rinnovo is a type of polyhydroxyalkanoate synthesized using a thermocatalytic process, which Danimer believes can be produced at a lower cost than PHA produced via fermentation. The Rinnovo platform also boasts unique properties relative to currently marketed […]

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Kraton introduces agrochemical coating made from crude tall oil

Kraton introduces agrochemical coating made from crude tall oil

February 26, 2024 |

In Houston, Kraton Corporation has introduced a new line of biobased hydrocarbon oils for agrochemicals, adhesives, and lubricants. Made from pulp and paper byproduct crude tall oil, the first product in the SYLVASOLV line has been specifically developed to meet the unique functional needs of the agriculture industry, finding use in fertilizer coatings and crop […]

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Iceland’s Prime Minister tastes cultivated quail

Iceland’s Prime Minister tastes cultivated quail

February 19, 2024 |

In Iceland, Vow and ORF Genetics have held a tasting event for cultivated quail. Vegconomist reported that attendees included Iceland’s Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir, who said cultivated meat is among the solutions to the climate challenge. “The Icelandic authorities are determined to pave the way for the adoption of new solutions in Iceland and we […]

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Fish funds: Pacifico Biolabs raises $3.3 million for seafood alternative

Fish funds: Pacifico Biolabs raises $3.3 million for seafood alternative

February 19, 2024 |

In Berlin, Pacifico Biolabs has emerged from stealth mode with a $3.3 million pre-seed funding. The company will use the cash to advance its precision fermentation process for producing seafood alternatives.  Zac Austin, co-founder and CEO, tells Tech Crunch Pacifico’s process uses a number of microorganisms, including mycelium to provide nutrition, flavor and texture,  as […]

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