Travel back in time to hear the origin story of Algenesis, which started as two companies in one, a biotechnology innovator and footwear maker. Today, the company is a leading maker of bio-based plastics. In 2023, Algenesis had just begun making a new, sustainable material and found a clever way to prove its utility to get big companies to embrace it. Join the conversation hear why a shoe company was the best a practical application to prove the value of a plant-based, compostable bioplastic foam. Stephen Mayfield, a professor of Biology at UC San Diego and director of the California Center for Algae Biotechnology, invented Soleic, an algae-based rubbery foam material that can be used in footwear, surfboards, and other products in the place of petroleum-based polyurethane foam. He launched Algenesis, a biotechnology-based materials science company to commercialize Soleic.

Note: This article contains affiliate links that help fund our Recycling Directory, the most comprehensive in North America.

But shoe companies did not come running to use Soleic, which biodegrades completely in sea water and compost piles. Along with Algenisis president Tom Cooke, a footwear and apparel industry veteran who had worked for Reef and Vans, Steve launched Blueview Footwear, maker of the world’s first compostable shoe. Steve and Tom join me today to talk about the evolution of Algenesis and Blueview, as well as the many materials Soleic could replace across a variety of product categories. The companies have also developed compostable, plant-based fabrics and a bioplastic waterproofing technology that biodegrades into organic material in a home compost pile. You can learn more about Blueview Footwear at blueviewfootwear.com and its parent company Algenesis Materials at algenesismaterials.com.

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Editor’s Note: This podcast originally aired on February 20, 2023.

The post Best of Sustainability In Your Ear: Algenesis & Blueview Launch the Algae-Based Polyurethane Industry appeared first on Earth911.

Bring Totoro and the gang to work with cleverly concealed character details. 

One of the things we love about Studio Ghibli is the way its movies appeal to people of all ages. Even My Neighbour Totoro, which might seem like a children’s movie, with its child protagonist and fantastical characters, has wider themes of familial love and rural ideals that strike a chord across generations, garnering fans that range from toddlers through to businessmen.

In fact, toddlers who first watched the film when it was released in 1988 would now be in their 30s, making them a prime customer for Totoro nostalgia. This is a market that the studio’s specialty retail chain, Donguri Kyowakoku, is now catering to with a new release of My Neighbour Totoro neckties.

The My Neighbour Totoro Necktie 26 Spring Summer collection consists of eight silk ties, in four designs.

▼ The first design, “Nut Stripe“, comes in two colourways – navy and wine.

This tie features the adorable movements of Totoro toddling around with fallen acorns, incorporated into a neat diagonal stripe pattern.

The design might be playful, but its subdued colours make it suitable for people of all ages, from young adults to seniors.

▼ Next up, we have Clover Check, also in navy or wine.

This design features a sophisticated check pattern, with a scattering of clovers and subtle appearances from the white Small Totoro.

▼ Look closely and you’ll see a little Soot Sprite perched on a clover leaf!

▼ The third design is Circle Dot, in blue or navy.

This lovely design has small Totoros peeking out from clusters of tiny, neatly arranged dotted circles.

Like all the ties, you wouldn’t know there was a character hiding out in the design when viewing it from a distance, but up close you can appreciate all the fine details.

▼ Finally, we have Acorn Check, in turquoise or blue.

Based on a traditional Japanese checkered pattern, this design features Totoro and acorns scattered in a balanced and cleverly concealed way.

This design is said to evoke a sense of nostalgia while maintaining a modern, contemporary Japanese aesthetic.

Every tie comes with a Studio Ghibli tag, so you can keep your love for the studio close to your heart…

▼ …and a sweet gift box, which is ideal for Father’s Day gift-giving.

With so many cleverly disguised character details, these ties are a great way to bring Totoro and the gang to work while maintaining a polished and professional appearance. They’re only available while stocks last, though, both online (links below) and at Donguri Kyowakoku stores in Japan, priced at 9,350 yen (US$58.47) each.

Source: Donguri Kyowakoku
Featured image: Donguri Kyowakoku
Insert images: Donguri Kyowakoku (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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If you get caught in the rain, Convenience Wear is your hidden saviour. 

Have you ever glanced at the T-shirts and sweatpants hanging in the corner of a Japanese convenience store and wondered, “Who actually buys these?” Well, there are plenty of reasons why someone might need a quick change of outfits, as our reporter Mr Sato can attest to after he got soaked in the rain when Typhoon Jangmi swept through Tokyo on 3 June.

Though he’d expected to get a little wet on the way to work as the rain was absolutely pouring down, he totally underestimated just how bad the conditions would be. What he didn’t underestimate, though, was the power of Family Mart, the Japanese convenience store that stocks a range of clothes dubbed “Convenience Wear“, so he sought one out and purchased five items from the range to solve his rainy day problem.

The products all come in compressed packaging, so it was hard for Mr Sato to get a sense of the overall size before returning to the office to try them. Hoping he’d chosen well, Mr Sato opened up the Soft Towel (1,089 yen [US$6.82]), and was happy to find its generous 34 x 80 centimetre (13.4 x 31.5 inch) proportions were perfect for patting down his wet body.

With even his underwear completely soaked, Mr Sato was grateful to purchase a new set of boxer shorts for 880 yen. As a lover of flamboyant clothing, this brightly striped pair was perfect for his wardrobe.

▼ Not only do these have a great design, they also have antibacterial and deodorising properties.

Next up was a pair of socks (429 yen), which he’d initially thought were ankle-length but they turned out to be knee-high. That was an oversight on his part, but he’ll be able to make good use of them with his chunky London boots.

Recently, there’s been some negative talk online about middle-aged men wearing shorts, but as he was in a bind, Mr Sato had no other choice but to slide into this forest green pair. At 1,998 yen, this was the most expensive article of clothing in his haul, but the shorts were a good-value nylon-and-cotton blend, making them lightweight and quick-dry.

Finally, we have the “Outer T-shirt” for 1,493 yen. Made of 100-percent cotton, it felt nice against the skin and the simple black colourway will go with just about anything.

Trying it all on, Mr Sato instantly felt like a new man. Everything was surprisingly comfortable – the T-shirt was nice and thick, the shorts light and easy to move in, and best of all, the feel and fit of the boxer briefs was outstanding.

Before today, Mr Sato never thought he’d ever have a reason to buy clothes from a convenience store, so this was a total revelation. Not only did he feel good, but he looked good too.

So if you ever find yourself totally soaked during Japan’s rainy season, Family Mart has you covered, quite literally. Plus, thanks to the quality of the material and the lightweight design, you’ll be able to pack an outfit like this into your bag for future outing changes, making them ideal for travellers.

Whether it’s teaming up with Pokémon, covering tiny ice cream bottles, or saving a drenched middle-aged man, Convenience Wear really is convenient.

Photos ©SoraNews24 
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Created in Google Gemini, aka, "Nano Banana."

Based off a real vintage ad.

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