Nov 21When Plastic Saved the Elephants: Pool Balls and the Bakelite RevolutionImagine losing your life so that the people in far-away lands could amuse themselves with your body parts. That was the fate of vast numbers of elephants for centuries who were killed to keep European nobility playing pool. Billiards goes back to the 15th century, when wooden balls were used…Pool5 min readPool5 min read
Jul 12Are Americans Really Eating More Meat?The USDA’s data seem to paint a pretty clear picture: per capita meat consumption in the US is steadily rising. While plant-based meat has exploded onto mainstream menus and meat aisles in the past several years, if you take these data at face value, it seems like Americans are eating…Meat5 min readMeat5 min read
Jun 16Why Have You Failed?“Why have you failed?” That’s the poignant yet sobering response Peter Singer offers in a recent interview when asked what he thinks animals would ask him if they could communicate with him. …Peter Singer8 min readPeter Singer8 min read
Jun 5Compostable Plastic? $130 Million Investor Dollars Are Betting on It.I was thinking about my lunch today: I used a tortilla that came in a plastic bag, on which I spread hummus from a plastic tub, followed by a bed of spinach that came in a plastic bag, topped with a layer of tofu that came in a plastic tub…Plastic Pollution2 min readPlastic Pollution2 min read
May 22Hummus Sapiens: How Hummus’ Takeover Can Help HumanityAs someone who’s jokingly referred to myself as a Hummus sapiens due to my daily hummus habit, it was a lot of fun to talk with the Hummus King himself, the CEO of the biggest hummus company on the planet. While hummus certainly makes my life better, I’ve long been…Hummus2 min readHummus2 min read
May 8Keel Labs Wants to Put Kelp in Your ClosetSome species of bamboo, the fastest-growing terrestrial plant, grow at about 35 inches a day. Duckweed, a tiny, humble aquatic plant of the genus Wolffia, can double its size in two hours. Similarly, kelp can grow by an impressive 18 inches to 2 feet per day. That puts the growth…Fashion4 min readFashion4 min read
May 2My Conversation with the CEO of QuornThere are many startups, including one that I cofounded, working to scale mycelium fermentation to a point where it can start making a dent in demand for animal meat. One company, though, has been doing this successfully for decades: Quorn Foods. While most animal-free meat is made from soy, pea…Mycelium2 min readMycelium2 min read
Apr 27What Do Quill Pens Have to Do with Meat? See My New TEDx TalkI’ve often told the story about the switch from whale oil to kerosene, including one time even using an actual harpoon in a TEDx talk about the cultivated meat movement. (Recommendation: Don’t try to bring a harpoon on a plane.) …Fungi3 min readFungi3 min read
Apr 20The Journey of Jason MathenyI like every episode of Business for Good that airs, but sometimes there’s an episode that I think is particularly meaningful, interesting, or worthwhile. In the case of our latest episode, it fits all three. I’ve known Jason Matheny for more than 20 years, and even profiled him in my…National Security2 min readNational Security2 min read
Mar 26Emulate Offers an Innovative New Model for Non-Animal TestingIn December 2022, President Biden signed the FDA Modernization Act 2.0, as approved by the House, and passed unanimously in the Senate. That’s a big deal, because among the landmark legislation’s provisions is one eliminating the requirement for testing on animals for drug safety. …Animal Testing5 min readAnimal Testing5 min read