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Index

Nr.
Company
About
Material
01

Mbeu

Mbeu (London, UK) is a microbial dye brand and R&D lab developed by Faber Futures to bring its proprietary microbial dye technologies to market through beautifully crafted textile, fashion and lifestyle products. Mbeu bridges design-led craft processes with advanced fermentation technologies to deliver a bespoke approach to biodesign that opens up the possibility for regenerative models of production and consumption.

Made from wildtype bacteria


Water efficient


Non-toxic


Renewable


Compatible with natural fibres and synthetics


Colourfastness comparable to conventional dyes


Leveraging the pigment-producing properties of microorganisms, Mbeu specialises in fermentation technologies and methods that create a range of different finishes on textiles, from prints to uniform dyes and bespoke patterns. Mbeu’s primary organism is Streptomyces coelicolor, a pigment-producing wild-type bacteria that results in a colourfast blue to red dye finish when fermented on textiles. Since the process is synergistic with the organism’s ability to utilise only the water and nutrients it needs to grow, this process promises a more resource-efficient production method for dyeing textiles.

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Product Reference (1):

0001 01 NPOL Original: Exploring Jacket
02

Living Ink

Living Ink (Colorado, US) is a biomaterials company founded by Scott Fulbright and Steve Albers, specialising in algae-based pigment and ink production. Initiated in 2013 as a PhD research project, the company has been on a mission to use sustainable algae technologies and replace petroleum-derived products with carbon-negative alternatives.

Made from algae-waste biomass


Carbon-negative


Non-toxic


Resistant to UV light degradation


Algae Ink™ is a unique, innovative, and environmentally-friendly specialty printing ink made out of Algae Black™ pigment. The black pigment is made from an algae by-product—a waste material derived from spirulina production and acquired from an algae farm in California. As the first commercially available bio-based ink, it shares similar material qualities to traditional inks, except that the pigment component is renewable and safe for the environment. Algae Ink™ can be stored, printed, and cleaned up just like traditional petroleum-pigmented ink.

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03

Biomason

Biomason (North Carolina, US) is the leading biocement production company, founded in 2012 by Ginger Krieg Dosier and Michael Dosier as a solution to the carbon intensity of the cement industry. Rather than burning fuels for calcination, Biomason works with a range of wild-type bacteria, harnessing the power of biotechnology to reinvent traditional kiln-fired cement and offer a natural building material alternative.

Reduced CO2 emissions


Non-combustible


Slip-resistant


Suitable for exterior and interior applications


Conventional installation methods


Biolith® is a biocement tile made with wild-type strains of bacteria manufactured with Biomason’s Biocement® technology. The process relies on bacteria for the growth of cement rather than burning fuels for calcination, as in the case of Ordinary Portland cement (OPC), which accounts for 8% of all global carbon dioxide emissions. The tiles are made from locally sourced aggregate and biologically generated calcium carbonate Biocement® material, resulting in a lighter and stronger composition that exceeds the physical properties of standard building materials. Each tile takes less than 60 hours to grow at ambient temperatures—rather than 28 days for traditional kiln-fired cement. According to Biomason, for every kilogram of biocement material used instead of conventional material, there’s the potential to eliminate 1 kg of CO2 from the atmosphere.

Product Reference (1):

0001 01 NPOL Original: Gathering Lamp

Glossary

Algae
Algae, primarily found in aquatic settings, generate 70% of Earth's oxygen and are key to food chains and nutrient cycling. Beyond their ecological importance, they have various industrial uses such as producing proteins and pharmaceuticals. They are vital for sustaining life on Earth.
Bacteria
Bacteria, ancient and resilient, are ecosystem linchpins, aiding nutrient cycling and life's equilibrium. With an astonishing mass of up to 200 billion metric tons, they intrigue scientists, advancing fields like medicine and ecology. These unseen microorganisms are integral, yet fascinating, players in Earth's biodiversity.
Biodesign
Biodesign incorporates living processes and biological principles into design at various levels of impact. It extends beyond biomimicry, recognising the potential for sustainable building and manufacturing with organic materials. This approach has fostered collaborations between scientists, artists, designers, policymakers, and more, reimagining creation, production, and consumption from an ecosystem-centred viewpoint.
Bioeconomy
An economic sector that leverages bioscience to reduce fossil fuel dependency and enable a transition towards sustainable economic practices by harnessing renewable biological resources. Currently, approximately 50 countries are actively developing national strategies for bioeconomy, investing in innovations to drive progress in this field.
Biomaterial/Bio-based Material
A general term used to describe materials, whether naturally occurring in nature or human-made, derived from or produced by biomass, such as animals, plants, and other life forms. A branch of a new generation of biomaterials is grown by living cells and microorganisms—bacteria, fungi, and algae—through the processes of fermentation, culturing, and engineering. Examples include spider silk, microbial pigment, mycelium leather, bacterial cellulose.
Biomanufacturing
A process of manufacturing bio-based products at commercial scale. Biomanufacturing uses both wildtype and engineered biological organisms, with applications ranging from detergents, food and biomaterials.
Biomimicry
A practice that learns from and mimics biological processes to translate those strategies into sustainable products, processes or policies. It honours nature’s wisdom, modelling solutions based on holistic observations of living systems and setting planet-centric standards for human innovations. According to the Biomimicry Institute, biomimetic approach to design has a healing quality for humanity, as it allows us to reconnect with life, rather than extract or dominate it.
Biophilic Culture
A human culture capable of re-connecting with nature towards more harmonious coexistence. From values to relationships, objects, and systems, its foundations are based on circular and restorative flows between people and the Biosphere, towards planetary health. As such, humans are seen as biological beings integral to the natural world rather than separate from it, with recognised impact and a sense of agency in its wellbeing.
Biosphere
The Earth layer where life can exist and thrive. The biosphere consists of abiotic (non-living) factors, living organisms (biota), and energy. It measures about 20 km, extending from the deep-sea surface to a few kilometres above sea level. It has existed for about 3.5 billion years, initially being occupied by single-celled prokaryotes, bacteria and archaea, which were able to survive without oxygen and transform the environmental conditions for other organisms to thrive, thanks to the process of photosynthesis.
Circular Design
An approach to design that rejects a linear intervention and instead centres on waste-free circulation of materials and resources. It presumes that climate change and biodiversity loss exist by design; therefore, the elimination of waste and resources should be inherent to the design process to make the economy work for both people and the planet. In a traditional linear approach, materials and resources are produced, used, and disposed of. The circular path rethinks the whole lifecycle of objects, in which, at the end of their life, materials are recovered and reused.
Co-design
An approach to design that positions end-users as experts in their own context. It is a kind of collaboration, where the intent is to create something that is not known in advance by means of collective creativity throughout the design process.
Cradle to Cradle
"Cradle to Cradle" is a sustainability concept focused on designing products and systems that are safe, ecologically designed, and fully recyclable or compostable throughout their entire lifecycle. It promotes a circular economy where materials are reused, minimising waste and environmental impact.
Cradle to Gate
A model for lifecycle analysis that measures the impact of a material or a product from resource extraction to the point of the product leaving the factory gates and before being transported to the user.
Ecosystem
Ecosystems are complex networks of interconnected relationships among living beings and their environments, spanning diverse habitats and human developments. They represent a dynamic interplay between ecology, society, and culture, emphasizing the mutual impact between human practices and ecosystem resilience.
Enzyme
Enzymes are specialised biological molecules found in various living organisms, including plants, animals and microorganisms, where they regulate and facilitate a wide range of metabolic processes for the functioning of all living systems. By identifying and isolating specific enzymes from diverse sources, humans use them as natural catalysts in producing food, pharmaceuticals, materials and more.
Feedstock
In biotechnology, feedstocks are the raw materials used as the foundation for biological processes, such as fermentation. These materials serve as a source of energy and nutrients for microorganisms or cells to produce various valuable bioproducts. The choice of feedstock in biotechnology processes is essential for optimising production and ensuring the economic and environmental sustainability of bioprocesses.
Fermentation
Fermentation is a naturally occurring process where microorganisms break down sugars into simpler substances like acids, alcohol and gases. Humans have applied their knowledge of this phenomenon to transform fermentation into a biotechnological tool to produce diverse products like alcoholic beverages, cheese, pharmaceuticals, and even materials.
Fungi
Fungi are diverse eukaryotic organisms with essential ecological roles as decomposers and forming mutualistic relationships with plants and animals. Humans and fungi have co-evolved, leading to their use in food, medicine, and biotechnology. Fungi contribute to fermentation, enzyme production, antibiotics, and biomaterials like mycelium-based composites. Their potential in regenerative systems and human health is being increasingly recognised.
GMO (Genetically Modified Organism)
An organism whose genome has been altered by direct manipulation using genetic engineering. Unlike selective breeding, GMOs do not rely on naturally occuring genetic diversity to create new traits. GMOs may be used for a variety of purposes, such as medicine and vaccine production, fermented beverages, and disease- and pest-resistant crop plants.
Impact
A marked positive effect of business activity on social, economic and environmental health.

Living System
A living system is a complex, organised collection of living organisms or components that interact with each other and their environment. These systems display characteristics of life like growth, reproduction, and metabolism and can range from individual cells to entire ecosystems. Living systems are interconnected, self-regulating, and adaptable, existing at various levels of biological organisation.
Microorganism
Invisible to the naked eye, microorganisms are single-celled or multicellular organisms that regulate various aspects of living systems. This diverse and ubiquitous group includes bacteria, protozoa, algae, fungi, and yeast and is found in water, soil, air, and within other organisms. Depending on the microorganism, they can be beneficial or cause harm to an ecosystem or an organism, but also aid processes like fermentation and metabolic process like digestion. Microorganisms offer versatility and affordances to biomanufacturing, underpinning various industries, from pharmaceuticals to biodesign.
Mycelium
Mycelium is the root-like structure of fungi and is made of hyphae networks that support the reproductive cycle of fungi and collect nutrients for their growth. It contributes to soil health and therefore entire ecosystems, producing enzymes that decay organic matter into compounds that nourish the fungi and their symbiotic partners. In industry, mycelium is grown into biodegradable materials and products for textiles, building components and even meat alternatives.
Planetary Boundaries
Defined in 2009 by researchers at the Stockholm Resilience Centre, these are nine quantitative limits to human activity that threaten the stability of Earth systems: climate change, biodiversity integrity, ocean acidification, depletion of the ozone layer, atmospheric aerosol pollution, biogeochemical flows of nitrogen and phosphorus, freshwater use, land-system change, and release of novel chemicals.
Regenerative
Tending to restore or regrow values, resources and relationships in a holistic manner towards planetary wellbeing.
Scale-to-fit
A planet-centric business growth measure that takes a holistic view of both internal and external factors, such as capacity, goals and context, to assess the potential and feasibility of its sustainable growth.
Scale-up
A business growth measure that focuses on increasing the capacity of current resources or operations to grow in size and profitability within the same market. It is considered a standard measure that defines the next milestones and proves the company’s viability.
Supply Chain
A network of individuals, organisations, activities, information and resources that contribute to the creation and movement of an end product, from its origination in the raw materials to the end-of-life resource management. The health and resilience of the supply chain is constitutive to the functionality of a business and depends as much on the robust operational flows as on cooperative relationships between all stakeholders.
Synthetic Biology
Synthetic biology is an interdisciplinary field of science and engineering that focuses on designing and constructing artificial biological systems or modifying existing ones for practical purposes. It involves the synthesis of DNA, genes, proteins, and other biological components to create new biological functions, organisms, or products. Aiming to solve complex problems by reprogramming biological systems, synthetic biology has applications in a wide range of fields, including biotechnology, medicine, agriculture, and environmental science.
Toxin-free
Releasing no fumes and chemicals harmful to the environment, including human health.
Wild-type
"Wild type" is the term used to describe the unaltered form of an organism, representing the typical characteristics of that species or population. It serves as a standard reference for genetic studies and experiments. Scientists often compare genetically modified or mutant organisms to the wild type to understand the effects of genetic changes or variations.
Yeast
Single-celled microorganisms are classified as part of the Fungi kingdom. As yeast grows, it feeds on sugar or starch, converting it into ethanol and carbon dioxide through fermentation. Due to its ability to undergo fermentation, it has been applied to fermented foods (wine, beer), baking, antibiotics, vitamins, and biofuel production.