Waste valorization

Today, we are going to do a brief introduction into recycling and waste valorization. We live in an unstoppable waste-producer world: our manufacture industry produces consumer goods, we pack them, we use electricity and we plunder natural resources; the problem is that all those daily activities generate waste. The question at this point is: what should we do with all that waste we are producing? ¿Should we take it to the landfill so we cannot see it again? We dump it into the seas?
This is the starting point to a new materials generation. Because, why do not use all that rubbish for a useful purpose? Well, waste-based materials already became reality. Let’s see a couple examples that might surprise you.

Researchers from the Polytechnic University of Valencia among with PRECON (precast concrete products company) have developed a new type of acoustic panel with an calcined-olive-stone-based aerated concrete. This “green panel” has already been patented and beat its main competitors in both technical and economic terms. Olive stones are transformed into an aggregate that is added to concrete to produce a material that absorbs noise. This new type of concrete has improved the technical properties of stone wool insulations, considered to be the best acoustic panels by then. Also the cost was reduced, they are 20 % cheaper than stone wool.
Expanded polyethylene (EPS) is widely known and commonly used everywhere, we’ve all unwrapped a new electronic device packed with this material that breaks into small white balls when teared. EPS is derived from petroleum and used in packaging, but it is also an important pollutant: apart from not being biodegradable it occupies lots of space in landfills.
Ecovative, is a material science company specialized in developing new home-compostable bioplastics. We are going to focus this article in one of their star products that has actually drawn our attention: the Mushroom® Packaging line. It is a 100% petroleum free material that aims to replace the conventional synthetic foams like EPS, EPP, EPE which are widely spread in packaging. It places itself as a reference in this matter, as a sustainable alternative to synthetic foams for a responsible packaging. Good news that this environmentally-friendly alternative is also low-cost, and furthermore, after its packaging mission comes to an end, it can be used as composite for our gardens.
Mushroom® Packaging is manufactured with agricultural waste and mushrooms, more precisely, mushroom’s mycelium. It is a living mixture: myceliums grow assembling all the components together without producing any spores or allergens. Once the structure is formed, the growing process is stopped with heat, and… ready to use!

Check the video!

Source: Polytechnic University of Valencia and Ecovative