Reports on egg factory farms and the health condition of hens has spoilt some people's appetite for eggs. But eggs without chicken – is that possible? Innovative plant-based products conquer the market.
Originally, dental floss was made of natural silk. In the 1940s it was gradually replaced by the synthetic material nylon. Nowadays, products made of bioplastic continue to drive the evolution of dental floss.
Conventional disposable tampons are made of up to 90% plastic - and are therefore not only harmful to the environment but also to the health of those wearing them. A new tampon offers a sustainable alternative.
Leather is as much in demand as it is controversial - although the chemically preserved animal skin is robust and versatile, its production takes place at the expense of animals, humans and the environment - not so with a new, plant-based imitation leather.
Anyone who loves fish can now leave it in the ocean and go for a slightly different salmon - made from pea protein instead of fish, 3D printed instead of caught.
Not just since Corona has online trade been booming - and so has the demand for packaging and cushioning materials. A nature-based innovation now offers an alternative to conventional cushioning materials and turns the packaging industry into a circular economy.
Instead of producing polymers synthetically, take what nature has already produced: A special technology can be used to extract biopolymers from agricultural residues - making them not only naturally degradable, but even edible.
Reuse instead of dispose - this also works for diapers. Modern cloth diapers outperform conventional alternatives in terms of environmental and skin compatibility.
Cosmetic products are often sold in plastic packaging. As a result, they generate more and more packaging waste.
Sounds paradoxical, but works brilliantly: Beetroot, often known as the cause of stubborn stains, qualifies as an ecological cleaning agent.
Instead of cotton pads and the like, sustainable makeup removal wipes are equally good for the skin and the environment.
Beer - a traditional German drink. Although beer consumption is declining, hardly any other country in the world records such high beer consumption as Germany.
When it comes to producing healthy and sustainable meat substitutes, there are no limits to creativity: Research is currently being conducted to develop an alternative made from apple residues.
As a sustainable alternative to the conventional insulation packaging made of polystyrene, straw enables to put an end to packaging waste in the parcel industry.
Our skin has to withstand quite a lot - heat and sun, cold and dryness, stress and wrong or no care. All too often, the right protection is neglected. Instead of body lotion, nourishing clothing made from seaweed is now supposed to help.
Finally, the time has come. The days are getting longer, the sunbeams warmer. Spring has arrived and the garden season begins. However, only a few plants are sown directly into the open field.
Leather is a material with excellent properties. Nevertheless, the purchase of leather goods is controversial, because leather from conventional animal breeding is not only CO2-intensive, but also needs large amounts of chemicals for tanning.
Barbecue fans love firing up the grill on balmy summer evenings. However, the cookout comes at the expense of nature: The charcoal used contributes to the massive destruction of forests.
Love cheeseburgers, but do not want to harm the environment? Now, you can satisfy your craving without eating meat. Plant-based burgers from the USA and Great Britain match the consistency and taste of their animal-based counterparts.
Coffee is the favorite drink in Germany. According to the German Coffee Association, 86% of all adults in Germany drink it every day or at least several times a week.