allplants World Environment Day

© allplants

Sustainability / Environment

allplants Says World Environment Day Should Focus on Plants, Not Plastic

UK-based meal delivery service allplants has challenged the theme for this year’s World Environment Day, “Solutions to Plastic Pollution”. The B-Corp argues that plastic is a “distraction” from larger issues facing the planet, such as animal agriculture. Figures suggest that food production is responsible for 26% of global greenhouse gas emissions, while plant-based diets could slash emissions by up to 85%. This makes adopting a plant-rich diet the second-most impactful solution to climate change, while reducing plastic use isn’t even in the top 50. Producing fewer animal foods would also have numerous other benefits, such as reducing deforestation and water pollution. allplants argues that governments should stop subsidizing the animal agriculture industry, instead focusing on legislation that promotes plant-based diets. It comes as the company …

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Siita - one of the world's first zero-waste companies

© Siita

Cosmetics & Bodycare

Korean Vegan Skincare Brand Siita Named One of the World’s First Zero-Waste Companies

UN-hosted online platform The Conscious Fashion and Lifestyle Network has recognised South Korea’s Siita as one of the only zero-waste companies in the world. In particular, the brand has been hailed for developing a method that rapidly decomposes plastic product containers. Siita’s empty containers are collected by the company and transformed into organic compost, which is then supplied to nearby farms. The process is said to be quicker and cheaper than other methods of breaking down plastics, taking just three months. In comparison, plastics can take hundreds of years to break down in landfill. “Siita is the only company in the world that decomposes products made of plastic. All Siita products are fully decomposed and return to nature,” said The Conscious Fashion and Lifestyle Network. …

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LOCI Red Sneakers

©LØCI

Fashion, Design & Beauty

LØCI Raises £4M From Leonardo DiCaprio and More for Ocean Plastic Sneakers

British sneaker brand LØCI announces it has raised a £4 million seed round from high-profile investors including actor and environmentalist Leonardo DiCaprio. According to the fashion label, the investment from DiCaprio will help amplify its mission of making sustainable fashion more accessible and affordable.  Founded in April 2021, LØCI (pronounced “low-key”) produces vegan, biodegradable shoes that are crafted from certified recycled ocean plastic. Upon its launch, the brand achieved seven figures in sales in its first year, and has since expanded into 26 global markets, partnering with top retailers such as Bergdorf Goodman, Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus.  LØCI counts Mila Kunis, Ben Affleck, Olivia Wilde and Eva Longoria among its celebrity fans, which has helped propel the 15-month-old brand to global fame and popularity. LØCI says …

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BLUEVIEW Sustainable Sneakers/Shoes

©BLUEVIEW

Fashion, Design & Beauty

BLUEVIEW Launches Pacific Biodegradable Sneakers Made From Plant-Based Plastic

BLUEVIEW, a new sustainable footwear brand, today launched what it says is the world’s first-to-market fully biodegradable shoe. The brand’s first release, the BLUEVIEW Pacific sneaker, is constructed with innovative Soleic® and PlantKnitTM plant-based materials, and is available for pre-order on BLUEVIEW’s website at a price of $135. Committed to transitioning the world to bio-based materials, BLUEVIEW says the brand is revolutionizing the footwear industry by replacing petroleum plastics with plastics made sustainably from plants. Its shoes utilize only eco-conscious, vegan materials that provide exceptional comfort and durability. Two cutting-edge materials BLUEVIEW’s proprietary Soleic and PlantKnit materials required six years of research and development. Soleic is the world’s first high-quality, renewable and biodegradable polyurethane foam, and provides the shoes’ sole and cushioned arch support. PlantKnit, …

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veganologie launches accessories with recycled materials

© Veganologie

Fashion, Design & Beauty

Veganologie Launches Accessories Made From Recycled Plastic Bottles

Dubai-based Veganologie launches accessories such as handbags and wallets, all made from recycled materials. When Angana Maheshwari began looking for a handbag that was sustainable, attractive, reasonably priced, and well-made, she couldn’t find anything that met her specifications — so she decided to design some. With time on her hands over lockdown, Maheshwari developed vegan bags, wallets, and credit card cases. The PU leather and vegan suede interior of the products are made entirely from recycled plastic bottles, while any hardware is made of fully recyclable zinc alloy. All packaging is also made from 100% recycled materials. Veganologie’s crossbody bags each use 11 plastic bottles, while the wallets are made from four bottles and the cardholders from two. The production process involves melting the bottles …

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Oumph! New Packaging

©Oumph!

Company News

Oumph! To Phase out Plastic Packaging and Introduce Cardboard Alternative for Frozen 

Oumph! – the rapidly-growing Swedish plant-based food producer – has announced plans to phase out plastic in its food product packaging. Oumph! will now opt for recyclable cardboard packaging in all of its markets. “Not only is it better for the environment, but we’re also receiving positive feedback from retailers because the packaging is easy to stack, and requires less freezer space” Launching first in the UK, Australia, and the Netherlands, the new packaging is designed to match Oumph!’s brand attitude and has reportedly received good feedback from consumers and retailers alike. With figures suggesting more than half the UK population wants to purchase less unnecessary packaging, award-winning brand Oumph! is looking to lead by example despite the numerous difficulties in adopting sustainable packaging for …

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Ooho Notpla seaweed packaging

Image credit: David Lineton ©Notpla

Investments & Finance

Notpla Seaweed Packaging Raises £10M For Fully Edible, Biodegradable Plastic

Notpla, a seaweed packaging startup, has raised £10 million in Series A funding for its sustainable packaging solution. Named Ooho, the alternative to plastic is an edible and fully biodegradable packaging made of seaweed.  As first reported by Silicon Canals, London-based Notpla will use the fresh funds to grow its manufacturing capacity while developing new innovations, such as a transparent flexible film and a seaweed paper. According to the company, seaweed is one of the planet’s most abundant sources of biomass and its production is highly sustainable.  Seaweed production does not compete with food crops, requires no fertilizer or freshwater, and sequesters carbon dioxide. Founded in 2014 by Rodrigo Garcia Gonzalez and Pierre-Yves Paslier, Notpla’s products easily biodegrade in just 4-6 weeks without the need …

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Xampla

©Xampla

Sustainability / Environment

Finding Solutions in Nature: Will Xampla’s ‘Vegan Spider Silk’ Put Single-Use Plastic out of Business? 

UK University of Cambridge spin-off startup Xampla has developed compostable plastic-free sachets and capsules made of a next-gen “vegan spider silk”. The plant-based polymer biomaterial will be introduced soon and may spell the end for single-use plastic.  Mimicking the properties of spider silk – one of the strongest materials found in nature – even down to the molecular level, the biomaterial is biodegradable, marine-degradable, and claimed to be as strong as conventional plastic. Expected to launch in late 2021 in packaging applications, the material could have enormous potential if adopted at scale.  Originally developed in Cambridge’s Knowles research lab, the “vegan spider silk” was featured in a recent paper published in the journal Nature Communications. Xampla, the startup that evolved from the research project, will …

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Bocados.Especiados - Foods for tomorrow

©Foods For Tomorrow

Sustainability / Environment

Spanish Plant Meat Brand Heura to Reduce 12.85 Tons of Plastic Every Year

Barcelona-based plant meat producer Heura, the fastest growing startup in Europe, replaced the plastic of its frozen products in January 2019 and now presents its new tray made of 100% recycled cardboard, reducing 80% of plastic packaging, a decision that Heura says will mean there will be 12.85 tons less plastic waste every year.

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Logo Sainsbury's

© J Sainsbury plc

Top Stories

Sainsbury’s Commits £1 billion to Become Net Zero By 2040

UK retail giant Sainsbury’s yesterday announced it is committed to investing £1 billion over the next two decades to become Net Zero by 2040. The billion pounds will be invested in seven areas: carbon emissions, food waste, plastic packaging and water usage and increasing recycling, biodiversity and healthy and sustainable eating.

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Actega

©Actega

Products & Launches

TPE – New Plastic Product is Free from Ingredients of Animal Origin

Vegan, kosher and ADC-free plastics are in demand in an increasing number of areas and not only against the backdrop of increasing concern about the safety of ADCs (animal-derived components). Most plastics in fact contain some ADCs – Actega Coatings and Sealants has created TPE as a means to solving this issue.

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©Unilever

Products & Launches

Vegan Solero Trials First Ever Multipack Without Plastic Wrappers

Ice cream brand Solero aims to help reduce plastic use in the home in a pioneering trial; 35% less plastic will be used in Solero Organic Peach pack –  its vegan product – compared to the original Solero Organic pack. The trial is part of Unilever‘s #GetPlasticWise ‘Five Point Plastic Plan’ which aims to rethink plastic.  

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