A reactor which converts carbon dioxide into ethanol, a method for detection of pesticides and contaminant in food and renewable leather created from bacteria won the heart of the jury. After adoption of 2030 SDGs the UN economic commission of Europe (UNECE) sought to show how innovative enterprises can contribute to address today’s social and environmental challenge. UNECE launched its idea4change SDGs award. A previous edition was set in 2015. The initiative is a call to startup in the 56 member countries of the UNECE for innovative ideas and solution to address the 17 SDGs according to website.
The jury price goes to Catalytic innovation and Inspecto, while the popularity prize goes to DeBatelier.
Catalytic innovation
Catalytic innovation a developing a reactor that converts carbon dioxide into ethanol, for use in consumer’s product and as a renewable fuel source. As per UNECE the components of the process that further improve the efficiency were discovered previously at Yale University and are under exclusive license to catalytic innovation. Inspecto developed a method for detection of pesticides and contamination in food. According to finalist webpage “with more than 85% of our food supply carrying pesticide residue it is no surprise that 29 different types of pesticide are in average human body according to Centre for Disease Control and Prevention in U.S.
“ DeBatelier is a collaborative research venture exploring new materials and techniques for the development of good and impactful design for all, with a focus on unfolding the potential of low-profile material and simple techniques.
In the corridors of Nation Palias in Geneva, the finalist presented their project. DeBatelier was displaying renewable leather created from bacteria. The soft to the touch material comes from different thickness, texture, and colours and can be used to manufacture shoes, clothes, bags.