Important Innovations

  Winner of Audi Innovation Award                                      Source:  Audi Innovation Award Innovation From Jordan Insect Kids is a biodegradable, recyclable ad reusable toy designed to benefit kids, their parents and the planet.  The toy is the creation of a brother and sister team Ahmad and Rasha Jarrar of Jordan.  They have received the prestigious Audi Innovation Award for their invention.  The focus of the Audi competition was "circular models", meaning that the materials and resources used for the design would be reusable over the long term, yielding their maximum value. A Toy That Eliminates Clutter and Plastic Waste The Insect Kids toy can be constantly reused and disassembled when not in use to avoid household clutter.  The toy is sustainable and recyclable.  The inventors used flatpack technology and biodegradable materials ...

Biodegradable Plastics for Everyday Use Source:  Stock Image of Plastic Straws New Innovation from Canada Canadian based tech company Genecis has invented a process to convert food waste, destined to be dumped in a landfill, to green, clean bioplastics.  The plastic material can be used for packaging, food services, agriculture and many other uses.  The food waste is processed and put through bioreactor fermentation to create commercial plastic products. Patented Technologies Genecis has patented technologies not only to  convert food waste into biodegradable plastics but also other high value materials.  The new bioplastic composts within a month and  biodegrades within a year should it find its way into the ocean.  Experts say this is the first, cost competitive PHA, green plastic available. 18 Billion Tons of Plastic Waste in Ocean Every year, 18 billion tons of plastic waste are ending up...

Naturbeads from the UK - Green Replacement for Plastics Source:  Naturbeads New Innovation to Replace Plastic Microbeads in Cosmetics These biodegradable microbeads invented by engineers at the University of Bath in the UK are an eco-friendly replacement to plastic microbeads found in cosmetics. Their invention is called Naturbeads and they've created a company around it that's receiving investment money from Innovate UK and Sky Ocean Ventures.  Naturbeads are made of cellulose which is a naturally occurring material.  Unlike plastics, it causes no environmental damage. Scalable Tech The engineering team creates their Naturbeads by pressing liquid cellulose through tiny holes to create drops and then detach them with vegetable oil.  There are many uses for this new invention including safer, greener cosmetics.  The bottom-lime:  Naturbeads are biodegradable, cellulose microparticles that replace plastic microbeads.  They are plastic alternat...

Alternative Foam that's Biodegradable & Plant-Based Source:  Washington State University New Foam Lightweight, Clean, Green Insulation This biodegradable alternative foam to Styrofoam is more effective and can support up to 200 times its weight.  It provides good insulation but is still lightweight.  It's the innovation of engineers at Washington State University.  The new material is made primarily of cellulose, the most abundant plant material on earth.  The researchers also have developed an environmentally friendly manufacturing process that uses water as the solvent, rather than harmful solvents. Wood is the Base The base of the new foam is wood pulp.  Researchers used acid hydrolysis to break the cellulose bonds in the wood and convert them into nanocrystals.  They added polyvinyl alcohol to the crystals to create the foam that provides good insulation that's light and strong.  It's an e-friendly alternative to petroleum based...

Israeli Innovation New Plastic with No Toxic Waste Scientists at Tel Aviv University have developed a green, biodegradable plastic derived from microorganisms that feed on seaweed.  There is no toxic waste and it can be recycled into organic waste.  This is a marine resource converted into green bioplastic.  Unlike plant based bioplastics, it doesn't require arable land and fresh water.  Israel, China and India have a shortage of both.  For a news blog on this innovation breakthrough, go to Important Innovations Collection: Green, Biodegradable Plastic : Israeli Innovation - New Plastic with Zero Toxic Waste Source:  Tel Aviv University's Non-toxic Plastic Plastic that's Good fo...

Biodegradable, Wireless, Tiny Implants Courtesy:  Northwestern University - Bioelectric Medicine Pulses of Electricity to Accelerate Nerve Regeneration Northwestern University researchers and Washington University neurosurgeons have developed the first example of bioelectric medicine.  It's an implantable, biodegradable, wireless device.  It speeds nerve regeneration and improves healing by pulses of electricity targeted directly at the site. Size of a Dime The implant is tiny.  It's the size of a dime and has the thickness of a piece of paper.  It delivers pulses of electricity to damaged nerves.  In lab tests on post-operative animals, it proved very successful in accelerating the regeneration of nerves and enhancing the recovery of muscle strength and control. Naturally Disappears In a week or two, the implant biodegrades, is naturally absorbed into the body and totally disappears.  The next steps will be testing it on humans.  ...

New Semiconductor with Organic & Inorganic Materials Enables Bendability Source:  ANU -  Innovators Asso. Prof. Larry Lu and PhD researcher Ankur Sharma Bendable Phones, Displays, Electronics Australian National University engineers have invented a breakthrough semiconductor.  The innovation is composed of organic and inorganic material.  It converts electricity into light very efficiently.  And it's so thin and flexible it can help to make cellphones and display screens bendable. Biodegradable Electronics Potentially Cutting E-Waste  This breakthrough could also enable a new generation of electronic devices made from organic material that's biodegradable or easily recycled.  This could greatly reduce E-Waste which is a huge and growing threat to the global environment. Scientific Specifics The organic component of the semiconductor is made of hydrogen and oxygen and has the thickness of just 1 atom.  The inorganic component...

World Economic Forum Innovation Winner Evoware of Indonesia & Its Seaweed Bioplastics Global Bioplastics Contender from Seaweed Evoware, an Indonesia-based company, makes edible bioplastics from seaweed for use as food wrappings and packets.  Their nature based innovation in bioplastics landed them as a top winner in the World Economic Forum's Global Design Challenge to rid the world of plastic throwaways that are jeopardizing our oceans and environment.  Here's a look at what a common natural substance like seaweed can do to make an environmental difference. Bioplastics that Are Edible, Biodegradable & a Lot More This is an edible alternative to commonly used multi-layered plastic wrappings.  It's directly manufactured from plant material making it edible and nutritious.  According to the New Plastics Economy, an initiative led by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, you can eat your burger with this wrapping or dissolve your coffee packet in hot water and...

Biodegradable, Hybrid Biobatteries Take-off Researchers at the State University of New York at Binghamton have developed a breakthrough biobattery, that's been eluding the engineering and scientific communities for decades.  It's paper-based, eco-friendly and hybrid.  On top of that, it's inexpensive and performs well. The problems this SUNY team have overcome are making the battery easy to produce, really biodegradable and powerful enough. Eco-Friendly Alternative The hybrid paper battery is easy to produce, flexible and biodegradable.  It has much higher power-to-cost ratio than previously reported paper-based microbial batteries.  This one uses a hybrid of paper and engineered polymers.  The polymers are the key to making it biodegradable. Powered to Start Ending Electronic Waste There's been a dramatic increase in electronics waste and the new biobattery is a start to reduce that.  Also, SUNY Asst. Professor Sean Choi says the battery's powe...