Tag: Sustainability

A maze-like material keeps insects away from plants. In France, meanwhile, a startup is creating sustainable pesticides from plant scents as around 80% of harmful insects are drawn to by these odours. The team deciphers which scents are particularly attractive for different species, and replicates the molecules in the lab. These can be used for the targeted defence of...

Small villages can inspire innovation for the circular economy in cocoa production. Now an Oxford-based startup is working on a sustainable substitute to the cocoa bean. Sound familiar? This time rather than cell cultures the team is using the plant’s pod. First, the shells are chopped up and, using an age-old Japanese method, fermented with the help of fungi. The...

Paper could replace polystyrene packaging. In Germany, meanwhile, a research team has been developing a process whereby paper bags are made without adhesives. Materials found in paper, you see, already have adhesive properties. First an initial layer of paper is irradiated with a carbon monoxide laser, causing the cellulose and lignin within to break up - similar to melting...

Changing style doesn’t have to mean hitting the shops. Buying second-hand clothing also saves money. Now a Vienna-based startup has developed an app, which allows charity retailers and vintage stores to upload their second-hand stock to selected platforms with greater efficiency. Just supply a photo, and an AI detects the shape and colour of the item to be sold,...

The future of salmon could lie in cell cultures. Meanwhile, a California-based startup is betting on a similar process for cacao in a bid to avoid further deforestation. A reduction in rainforests not only causes drought, but increases the likelihood of flooding - both harming cacao yields. In a bioreactor, cell cultures from the cacao plant are naturally fermented...

A robot banishes harmful algae slicks to the ocean floor. And, according to an Australian research team, oil spills could soon be hoovered up by mini-robots. Key here: a new filter with small, air-filled pouches, coated with a water-resistant nanolayer of graphene oxide. It separates oil with 95% purity and can be extensively reused. The 3D-printed, electrically-operated mini-robot complete...

Onions protect solar modules, securing their long-term output. Hemispherical solar cells could deliver even more electricity. Now a Norwegian startup’s system is enabling homeowners to harness their solar energy more efficiently and make provisions for the winter months. First, a fuel cell converts the solar energy into hydrogen. Then, using the firm’s patented technology, it is processed into a...

In the Netherlands, corn is a source of sustainable tiles. In California, however, a startup is using corn waste to create a super-absorbent and biodegradable material to replace the petrochemical liners in products like nappies and hygiene pads. The team developed special microorganisms to convert the corn’s sugar into a polymer, which can absorb as much liquid as materials...