Target launches startup accelerator to amp up healthy, sustainable product portfolio

Target Takeoff is a mini-retail boot camp for emerging businesses that are developing healthier and more ethically and sustainably made products. Brands including True Moringa, Salty Girl Seafood, FATCO and Pique were among the first to participate. "Many of these solutions eventually come full-circle and end up in Target's assortment," says the retailer's chief sustainability officer. Read more at Sustainable Brands...

Natural dyes made from worm poop, food waste are Patagonia's latest eco-fashion innovation

Brown dye from bitter orange peel. Green dye from silkwoom excrement. Gray dye from pomegranate rinds. Patagonia's new Clean Color Collection taps these natural sources for its colors, but it wasn't an easy process. "It took us multiple attempts to commercialize this program," says Sarah Hayes, senior manager of materials innovation and development. The benefits of the natural dyes are that they require less water, carbon dioxide and energy to produce, the company says. Read more at NOLA.com...

Spindrift sparkling water closes $10 million in new growth capital led by VMG Partners

The sparkling water brand, which says it's experienced 800 percent revenue growth over the last two years, secured new growth capital from VMG Partners, Prolog Ventures, Karp Reilly and other existing investors. Spindrift says the money will allow it to "continue expansion into other classes of trade while investing in production infrastructure." Read more at Yahoo! Finance...

Hampton Creek CEO fires top execs after fundraising struggles

Sources say the venture-backed food company has raised only a fraction of the funding it's been going after for almost a year, according to Bloomberg. They also say several senior leaders at the company have exited in recent months—some who were fired and others who left by choice. Read more at Bloomberg...

Woman wins $110 million in baby powder lawsuit

The outcome of a high-profile court case in St. Louis could lead more skin care and cosmetics companies to take a closer look at their ingredient lists: The judge ordered Johnson & Johnson to pay out $110.5 million to a woman who alleged that she developed ovarian cancer from prolonged use of the company's baby powder. Read more at Treehugger...