In Switzerland, a new report from the IUCN Oil Crops Taskforce assesses the future environmental, economic and social impact of the production, trade and the consumption of vegetable oils. The report, published by IUCN in collaboration with the Sustainable Nutrition Scientific Board, found that growing demand for vegetable oils could translate into the conversion of natural areas into […]
In Switzerland, a startup is recreating the intensely umami flavor of truffles, a pricey fungi that is impossible to cultivate and so difficult to find specially trained dogs and pigs are required. Founded by professor and truffle expert Richard Splivallo, Nectariss is using fermentation to produce its truffle oil, which it sells under the brand […]
In Switzerland, researchers at ETH Zurich have engineered bacteria in the laboratory to efficiently use methanol. The metabolism of these bacteria can now be tapped into to produce valuable products currently made by the chemical industry from fossil fuels. Bacteria that feed on methanol, known as methylotrophs, are at the centre of these efforts. Containing […]
In Switzerland, design school ÉCAL has introduced a new concept in sustainable furniture: ultra-compact cellulose sponge forms, efficiency shipped in flat parcels and expanded into sturdy furnishings once at its destination. Dubbed Under Pressure Solutions, ÉCAL claims the material can expand up to 10x its original size when soaked in water. After this step, users […]
In Switzerland, ETH Zurich said that a group of its researchers have engineered bacteria in the laboratory to efficiently use methanol. The metabolism of these bacteria can now be tapped into to produce valuable products currently made by the chemical industry from fossil fuels, ETH Zurich said. Researchers explained that methanol can be synthesized from […]
In Switzerland, specialty chemical company Archroma has unveiled a biobased, durable water repellent finish for outerwear and apparel fabrics that delivers rain and stain protection with a soft and comfortable feel. Dubbed PHOBOTEX® NTR-50 LIQ, the coating can be used on synthetic fibers and blends, making it suitable for a wide range of applications including […]
In Switzerland, Bcomp announced it has completed a $40 million Series C investment funding round. The round was led by EGS Beteiligungen AG (EGSB), a major Swiss institutional investor focused on growth-stage companies. Verve Ventures, Zürcher Kantonalbank, and RKKVC are additional new investors, the firm said. The funding round also saw a group of Series […]
In Switzerland, ETH Zurich researchers can now reveal the most effective renovation strategies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions: replace fossil- fuel heating systems and harness the potential of bio- based building materials like straw and hemp. They developed a model that uses AI to calculate greenhouse gas emissions and costs and also takes into account […]
In Switzerland, Empa researchers have extracted nanocellulose from a waste product of beer brewing and processed it into an aerogel. The high-quality biodegradable material could be used in food packaging. It all starts with the mash: the mixture of malt and water, which is stirred and gently heated for several hours. The resulting liquid is […]
In Switzerland, Syngenta Crop Protection, a leader in agricultural innovation, is to reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from its logistics operations by using Maersk’s ECO Delivery solution for its ocean shipments. This follows the finalization of an agreement for the transport of containers using biofuel for a Europe-US shipping route in 2024. Maersk’s ECO […]
