Flexible foam materials like yoga mats and flip-flop soles may feel nice and squishy under your feet, but they’re hiding a dark and very eco-unfriendly secret: they’re made of petrochemicals. The non-biodegradable, non-renewable materials may soon be overtaken by Bloom, a foam material derived from all natural algae.

Bloom is the result of a collaboration between Algix, a producer of algae byproducts, and Effekt, a developer of eco-friendly materials. The process involves harvesting algae biomass from U.S. and Asian waste streams. The algae they use is abundant, quick-growing, not a food source, and generally seen as an environment-clogging nuisance, so harvesting and using it is kind of a win-win for everyone.

After harvest, the algae is dried and mixed with natural compounds to form the soft and flexible foam material. The foams contain 15% – 60% algae; the exact specifications depend on the intended application.

Aside from yoga mats and shoes, planned applications include surf traction, bath toys, packaging, and luggage. The material goes into production in the U.S. and Asia in early 2016.

The post First Ever Algae-Derived Foam Makes Yoga Earth Friendlier first appeared on Gajitz.

When plastic was invented, it was thought of as a miracle material and manufacturers starting using it as a cheap alternative to wood, metal and glass. But eventually the world realized that this toxic, non-renewable, non-biodegradable material wasn’t as miraculous as we had once thought. Researchers have been looking for years for a suitable (but equally strong and versatile) alternative to plastic. A material called Zeoform might be that alternative.

Zeoform, developed by an Australian company, is made of natural, biodegradable materials: cellulose and water. Using fibrous material from plants like flax or hemp, or using recycled textiles and paper, the process sounds rather simple. The material is added to water and then ground into tiny pieces. It’s turned out as pellets or sheets, which can then be formed into any imaginable shape.

According to the company behind the miracle material, it can be treated just like wood: it can be sanded, coated, or whatever is necessary to create new products. The company isn’t just concerned with their own bottom line, either – they believe that the abandoned paper mills in many towns could be revived and countless jobs created by simply retrofitting those paper mills to make Zeoform. The crowdfunding campaign for the Zeoform project is meant to raise awareness of the material and get the open-source formula out to as many designers, makers, and entrepreneurs as possible.

The post New Bio-Plastic is Good for the Environment + Employment first appeared on Gajitz.

In Amsterdam, where bike sharing programs have been a thing – a very popular and successful thing – for years already, a new kind of bike is about to make serious waves. The Be.e is a fully electric scooter with a super-strong shell made from sustainable hemp fibers. It can definitely keep up with its non-electric and non-sustainable counterparts: the Be.e has a top speed of 30 MPH and a range of 50 miles.

As a collaborative project between Van.eko (the startup behind the project) and designers Waarmakers, the Be.e is a shining example of great design. The natural materials used to make the shell are incredibly resilient. The folks at Van.eko say that in a minor collision, the body of the scooter will sustain minor scratches or scuffs – it won’t fall apart like some other scooters. The body is made with the same process used to make Formula 1 race cars.

The goal in the design seems to have been to keep it as simple as possible. There are very few moving or movable parts. The hub engine in the rear wheel has only one moving component itself. Because the bioplastic shell is load-bearing and creates the actual structure of the scooter, there are no connections, joints, or welds to degrade and cause problems.

Because the scooter is so different from others on the market – it’s fully electric and made of natural materials – Van.eko decided to keep the appearance quite traditional. When you look at the Be.e, it immediately calls to mind the iconic design of the Vespa. It even boasts a luxurious leather saddle and handy bug shield.

Don’t fall too deeply in love with the Be.e unless you live in Amsterdam, however. These beautifully designed frameless scooters won’t be available for purchase. They will only be leased; a monthly fee lets you ride the Be.e as much as you like. If anything goes wrong with the scooter, Van.eko will fix it or replace it for free. Lessees will even be able to sub-lease their scooters to other people or start their own scooter-rental business.

The post Clean + Green: Electric Scooter Made of Hemp-Based Plastic first appeared on Gajitz.