Sustainability Matters

The family-run business Dyaqua has developed a technology to integrate a photovoltaic panel into roof tiles with terracotta aesthetics, in order to bring solar energy to historic cities and their…

Thai designer Irene Purasachit uses discarded cut flowers to make eco-friendly floral sponge, paper and textiles.

Finnish company Woodio has developed the world's first toilet made from a biomaterial based on wood cellulose and resins. The product received the Design Plus Award 2023 at the ISH in Frankfurt.

With her "Solar Blanket", designer Mireille Steinhage shows how the use of self-sufficient products can cushion the burden of rising energy prices.

Berlin based start-up MotorSkins designs and produces textiles with embedded fluidics for Human movement and Human-machine interaction. Their textile systems are capable of sensing and giving haptic…

NaturLoop has been developing a technology for biocomposites from agricultural byproducts and natural adhesives. Its first product, Cocoboard is made from coconut husk fibers and tannin extracts.

A research initiative of the Fraunhofer IAP aims to produce hydrogen by operating small wind turbines for personal use. Small rotors and safe tanks are currently being developed for this purpose.

With EPHEA, the Italian manufacturer Mogu presented a new mushroom-based leather alternative at Paris Fashion Week and expanded the options for the shoe and fashion industry.

The US start-up Ubiquitous Energy has developed a transparent glass coating for solar windows to get regenerative energy from glass facades.

Edible mushrooms are considered an important food source worldwide. An Australian company has launched salty mushroom chips as a nutritious alternative to standard potato chips.

Israeli start-up Plantish has developed a 3D printed plant-based alternative to salmon that has the same nutritional value as fish. It can be prepared in the same way as regular salmon.

At Aalto University students developed the DipWrap, a bio-based protective film for cucumbers made from agar-agar, carnauba wax and dispersed cellulose nanocrystals as an alternative to plastic…

The 3D Pioneers Challenge 2022 adresses tech pioneers who pave the way for technology transfer to a sustainable future. Diana Drewes is part of the top-class jury.

On the occasion of formnext in Frankfurt, the start-up Ponticon presented a process for developing new metallic materials for additive manufacturing based on high-speed laser cladding.

A team of US scientists has developed a vaccine patch with 3D-printed microneedles for a significantly increased immune response and less pain.

thyssenkrupp has reached an important milestone in its transformation towards climate-neutral steel. The first batch of steel was delivered with reduced CO2 emissions.

The company Swiss Wood Solutions is working on modifying domestic solid wood and veneer so that it becomes a true high-performance material, in some cases surpassing the properties of tropical woods.

Cell-cultured meat is seen as a future source of protein to combat climate change. Mosa Meat and Aleph Farms have developed advanced technologies for extracting meat from animal cells.

The Berlin designer Julian Lechner, in cooperation with Lilienthal Berlin, launched the world's first watch made from recycled coffee grounds, waxes and oils.

Scientists from the Fraunhofer WKI and the University of Hohenheim have succeeded in extracting the bioplastic hydroxymethylfurfural HMF from old bakery goods for formaldehyde-free resins and…