Bio-based Materials in 2023

In 2023, the world of innovative materials are not only eco-friendly but also downright fascinating.

In an era where sustainability is more than just a buzzword, companies are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible, turning to nature for inspiration.

Disappearing Plastics

You’ve probably already seen Notpla’s Ooho, a plastic alternative made from seaweed, on social media.

This innovative company is making a plastic packaging that’s not just organic, it’s edible. Decomposing in a few weeks (versus the years if not decades it takes for petroleum based plastics to breakdown) Notpla continues advancing the benefits of seaweed in biomaterials.

Non-Carcinogenic Black Ink

Black ink is everywhere, from the books we read to the labels on our favourite products. Modern commercial black ink and pigments are derived from fossil fuels and are hazardous to human health.

What started as a KickStarter project 7 years ago has now evolved into a viable commercial reality.

Living Ink’s algae based black ink alternative is being used today for printing through a growing number of commercial printers. For paper, as well as textiles printing is advancing biomaterial research for pigments.

Potato Waste Textiles

Cotton is a staple material in the fashion industry, but its production can be water-intensive and environmentally taxing.

Enter Fibe, a company that’s turning potato waste into a sustainable alternative to cotton fabric, called Patacel. This innovative material is soft, durable, and has a minimal environmental footprint.

Body Armour Silk

Breeding a new kind of silk spinning caterpillar has helped Kraig Labs to develop a new type of silk with a strength many times stronger than kevlar.

Dragon Silk^TM and Monster Silk^TM are new commercial textiles and threads intended for medical and defence applications being made by Kraig Labs.

Grain-made Leather

Waste from the brewing process is being transformed into a new alternative to artificial leathers (like PU). Arda are producing New Grain^TM – a man-made leather that uses a fraction of the land, less water, and has much lower CO2 emissions than other synthetic alternatives and genuine leather.