In Chicago, design student Gabe Tavas has been awarded the prestigious James Dyson award for developing a process to convert kombucha waste into an alternative for wood, including exotic and endangered species. Dubbed Pyrus, the material is made from a sheet of bacterial cellulose that is a byproduct of kombucha production. Tavas created the first […]
In Chicago, cultured meat startup Because, Animals aims to launch a treat for cats in 2022 that contains lab-grown mouse meat. Its first product, called Cultured Mouse Cookies for Cats, is ready for scale-up, although regulatory approval for commercial sales is still outstanding. The company is also working to develop lab-grown rabbit for dogs. “The […]
In Chicago, alternative seafood startup AquaCultured Foods claims to have produced the world’s first “whole muscle seafood alternative” via fermentation. The process uses fungi to produce seafood substitutes for products like calamari, shrimp, whitefish, and tuna. “Plant-based seafood is an area that has been notoriously lacking in options,” says Anne Palermo, CEO and cofounder, AquaCultured […]
In Chicago, tennis giant Wilson has manufactured 422 rackets incorporating algae-based plastic and solvent-free coatings. Called the Naked series, each racket is priced at $499. Available models include the Blade 98 (16×19), Clash 100, Pro Staff 97 and Ultra 100. Wilson will also donate $20,000 to sustainable apparel brand tentree—so named because it plants ten […]
In Chicago, candy behemoth Mars Wrigley has inked a two-year deal with polyhydroxyalkanoate manufacturer Danimer Scientific to create biodegradable wrappers for Skittles. Mars hopes to have the new biodegradable packaging on shelves late this year or early next, and has set a longer-term target of reaching 100% reusable, recyclable, or compostable packaging by 2025. The […]
In Chicago, the first index of publicly traded plant-based stocks has been launched. Dubbed the Global Vegan Impact and Innovation Index, or VegTech, the Dow Jones-type index includes 21 global, publicly traded companies actively innovating to remove animals from the supply chain. Inclusion criteria is strict. The company needs to be working, intentionally or not, […]
In Chicago, an extensive survey conducted by agribusiness giant ADM shows a clear consumer shift to plant-based protein during the COVID-19 pandemic. Consumers also report significant interest in improving their gut health, immunity and emotional wellbeing through nutrition. “Consumers’ attitudes, priorities and behaviors are shifting significantly,” Ana Ferrell, Vice President of Marketing at ADM, tells […]
From California we received the news that Chicagoland has been selected as the site of Fulcrum BioEnergy’s second commercial-scale waste-to-fuels biorefinery. We reported last month that the long-awaited financing was completed for Fulcrum Bioenergy’s highly-anticipated first commercial project near Reno, Nevada. “Our bonds priced on the the 12th, and closed on the 27th and we […]
In Chicago, the premium for New York Harbor ethanol over Chicago Argo fell to its lowest in 21 months at 1 cent per gallon on Monday. With a shrinking premium, shipments of ethanol to the East Coast from the Midwest become less likely, indicating a supplied market. Chicago Argo prices, however, are hovering at two […]
In Chicago, falling biodiesel feedstock prices are weighing on the biodiesel blending factor—boho—bringing them to seven-month lows at negative 30.85 cents/gal on Friday. These low costs should increase demand for blending. The boho factor has fallen nearly 20 cents in the past month thanks to expectations of a bumper soybean crop. Soybean oil makes up […]
