By Dr. Ashley Holding and Paula Lorenz Cactus leather. Apple leather. Coffee shoe foam. It seems like every other week, there is a new story praising the latest material that might be a revolutionary new alternative to some existing material, such as plastic or leather. There is a pattern that connects many of these innovations: …
By Paula Lorenz The Thing About Polyester One thing increasingly noticeable on the internet are ads for sustainable clothing made from recycled polyester. Many brands are now marketing recycled polyester clothes, from small ranges or capsule collections by bigger brands, to niche brands that have made this their USP. To the average, eco-conscious consumer this …
In a recent flurry of media articles, a revolutionary new project was announced to develop plant-based bottles by utilising a new material developed by Dutch company Avantium, which had the support of a number of high-profile brand partners including Carlsberg, Coca-Cola, Danone and L’Oréal. British media wondered if this new material was the end of plastic entirely or more specifically, the end of plastic bottles as we know them. So what is this new material, where does it come from, and how sustainable is it?
In this article, we will discuss how common beliefs around bioplastics and biodegradability often conflict with reality and what role they might play in a circular economy.
