Arancha Yáñez, a product designer with a deep passion for diving, noticed the increasing ocean plastic pollution. This concern led her to research for seven years sustainable alternatives that could mitigate this problem. She discovered plant waste could be used as an ideal raw material for her project, which could help reduce the use of plastics while providing the food industry with an efficient way to manage its by-products.
In 2016, Yáñez transformed her findings into a business reality establishing Feltwood, an Aragonese start-up. This company has developed a technology that can transform vegetable waste, such as lettuce, tomatoes, broccoli, or oranges, into a 100% biodegradable and compostable vegetable fiber called Ecoes. This eco-material, free of additives and chemicals, has characteristics comparable to those of plastic and wood in terms of rigidity, in addition to having a similar appearance to cardboard and being water resistant. Ecoes fiber can be used alone or in combination with cellulose, offering the packaging industry an alternative with improved strength, resistance, and stiffness properties.
The company highlights the versatility and ecological potential of Ecoes, pointing out that, when discarded in the water, it becomes fish food, while, if buried, it nourishes plants. In addition, this material can withstand more than a dozen recycling cycles, underlining its commitment to sustainability and innovation in the fight against plastic pollution.
Source: heraldo.es