Technology
New study finds pathway to biodegrade “indestructible” plastics
New research suggests two of the world's most common plastics, polyethylene and polypropylene, can fully biodegrade in nature without leaving microplastics behind. The findings come from Polymateria, working alongside Imperial College London and Malaysia's Standard and Industrial Research Institute, SIRIM.…
Texas student’s science fair project offers new algae biofuel insights
A science lesson on biomass led a seventh-grade student in Texas to develop an experiment with implications for algae-based biofuel production. Arya Hirsave attends Canyon Vista Middle School in Austin. She became interested in algae after learning about renewable and…
Bamboo bioplastic rivals conventional plastic
Chinese researchers have developed a bamboo-based bioplastic that matches the strength of conventional plastics while remaining fully biodegradable. The study, published in Nature, describes a new way of reorganising bamboo cellulose at the molecular level to overcome common weaknesses in…
CJ Biomaterials turns sugar into biodegradable plastic
At a research lab in Woburn, Massachusetts, pebble-sized pellets are being molded into forks, films and packaging. Unlike ordinary plastic, these are designed to disappear rather than persist. The material comes from CJ Biomaterials. The company ferments sugar to produce…
Beauty biotech C16 launches fermented cocoa butter
C16 Biosciences has entered the food industry with a fermented cocoa butter equivalent. The New York biotech, known for sustainable palm oil alternatives, is now applying its technology to edible fats. The new product is sold under the Palmless brand…
Melon peels turned into vegan leather
Chilgok County in South Korea has developed a plant-based leather alternative made from discarded melon peels, aiming to reduce agricultural waste while boosting the local economy. The county sits in North Gyeongsang Province, one of the country's top melon-producing regions.…