Materiom

⭐ Innovator Spotlight ⭐ BlueBlocks Concepts, a pioneering material research and biodesign studio, transforms bio-based materials into sustainable designs. By utilising unused residual streams from the agri-food sector and other natural raw materials, they create innovative solutions. Currently, BlueBlocks is developing bioplastic from seaweed and hardboard from leftover plant fibres. Their work exemplifies the potential of bio-based materials in advancing sustainability. Find out more about BlueBlocks here:

Congratulations Keel Labs 👏 A huge achievement

An exciting breakthrough in bio-based materials! Researchers at the University of Copenhagen (Københavns Universitet) have developed a 100% biodegradable plastic made from barley. This innovative material aims to reduce reliance on traditional plastics, offering a compostable alternative that can significantly cut down plastic pollution. This barley plastic is not only bio-based but also leverages agricultural by-products, promoting a circular economy. Kudos to the team for this advancement! Find out more here:

🔍 The fashion industry urgently needs sustainable materials to reduce its environmental impact, but finding investors for biomaterials is challenging, experts say. Companies like Modern Synthesis and Keel Labs are innovating with microbial cellulose and seaweed-based fibers, respectively, but scaling these solutions requires patient investment and long-term support. Addressing the environmental footprint of fashion necessitates collaboration between brands and material innovators. Read more here:

INDUSTRY NEWS: Biophilica's Treekind - a home-compostable, plastic-free leather alternative made from leaves - is the first UK vegan leather alternative to receive the USDA 100% bio-based product certification. Treekind is said to offer significant environmental benefits compared to conventional leather. When fully scaled, the production of 1kg of Treekind reportedly uses less than 0.1% of the water required in traditional leather processing, contains no toxic chemicals, and has a reduced carbon footprint due to its bio-based content. Congratulations to Biophilica for leading the way in sustainable materials! 👏 Find out more here:

Melina Bucher has recently launched the first handbag using 100% bio-based, plastic-free materials from NFW, Ponda Bio, revoltech and Ecovative - the mycelium technology company. 🌱 MIRUM® by NFW is a high-performance plant-based vegan leather with 100% natural inputs. It's made from responsibly sourced natural rubber, plant-based oil, natural pigments and minerals. This material has a significant positive impact on greenhouse gas emissions as well as water scarcity and biodiversity, as it requires neither tanning nor water during manufacturing and dyeing. 🌱 The filling material used in the bag is Biopuff® from Ponda. Unlike coventional fillers such as feathers and polyester, this next-generation material is produced by extracting fibers from the Typha plant, thereby regenerating precious wetland ecosystems. 🌱 As reinforcements of the bag, the non-woven material LOVR® based on hemp residues from hemp fields in Germany by Revoltech is used. 🌱 Forager™ by Ecovative is a fully biological foam made of mycelium that is 100% free of plastic and chemicals. The result is true circularity where it's needed most, because mycelium, when thrown away at the end of a product's life, returns to the Earth as a nutrient rather than a pollutant. Find out more here:

Some exciting innovative and bio-based fabrics highlighted below! Innovative materials play a crucial role in changing the industry - but the industry has to change too, turning away from overproduction and overconsumption.

During the recent meeting of the Open-end Working Group of the Basel Convention, IPEN (International Pollutants Elimination Network) shone a light on the pressing issues surrounding the plastic waste trade. Currently, vast amounts of plastic waste are being shipped to some of the world's poorest communities under the guise of 'recycling'. IPEN policy advisor Lee Bell pointed out that significant volumes of plastic waste continue to slip through the cracks of convention controls due to misclassification and misinterpretation of commodity codes. Efforts typically focus on materials coded at HS 3915, covering waste and scraps of plastics. However, this code overlooks various types of plastic waste, including those hidden in synthetic textiles, plastic-based rubber products, plastic mixed in bales of recovered paper, and the plastic component of refuse-derived fuels. As a result, the actual amount of plastic waste shipped from OECD to non-OECD countries is often underreported - potentially up to twice the reported figures. We need to urgently reform these classification systems and implement controls to ensure a fair and transparent global waste management system. #PlasticWaste #Recycling #WasteManagement #Sustainability

We love seeing big contenders like McDonald's making strides in the bio-based industry. Independent McDonald's franchise, Arcos Dorados, has started using J&J Green Paper's innovative bio-based barrier coating, JANUS, for its food packaging. This 100% biodegradable, compostable, and recyclable coating aims to replace traditional plastics and PFAS chemicals, significantly reducing environmental impact. The transition has started with primary bags and wrappers for hamburgers, making a pivotal step towards more eco-friendly packaging in the fast food industry. Read the full story here: https://buff.ly/4cO0qlV Packaging Europe #biobased #foodpackaging #biobasedmaterials

Happy World BioProduct Day! Today marks the first #BioProductDay, a global celebration dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of bio-based products in achieving environmental sustainability and climate action. At Materiom, we are proud to be a part of this movement, consistently working towards accelerating the research, development, and adoption of materials that have a net-positive impact on the planet. Here's to some of our favourite bio-based material start-ups that are changing the game of the industry: 🌱 Sway 🌱 Notpla 🌱 Great Wrap 🌱 BIOHM Let's continue to champion bio-based products and their role in creating a sustainable and regenerative future! Share your favourite bio-based material start ups in the comments below ⬇️ #BioProductDay #Sustainability #ClimateAction #BioEconomy #MaterialScience #Biobased