Innovations that will inspire you to take action and be part of the solution!
Each stage of history has its own challenges. So, it is necessary to seek solutions and implement changes that respond to the needs that society demands.
Currently our world requires committed citizens in the search for alternatives to reimagine a better future. As young people, we are called to feed our curiosity, be agents of change and lead high impact projects.
Perseverance, discipline, and a visionary spirit are fundamental elements to advance in the process. This helps generate a contribution in the community. Therefore, I share with you some innovative and disruptive business ideas that can inspire and motivate you to dream. It may awaken the entrepreneurial spirit that you carry within. Like you, these companies started with a small idea that they managed to materialize with effort and dedication.
1. Chopvalue: www.chopvalue.com
This company decided to collect the chopsticks that are normally discarded in restaurants, to give them another use. Once they are collected and processed, they become a composite material that is the raw material for the manufacture of decorative objects such as shelves, cabinets, cheese boards, table tops and so on. The company offers a portfolio of high-quality products, based on the circular economy model.
2. Desserto: www.desserto.com.mx
Leather is a material used in different industries and mostly comes from the skin of animals such as cattle, sheep, goats, horses, buffalo, pigs, and aquatic animals such as seals and alligators. Unlike traditional alternatives, this company managed to develop "the world's first highly sustainable and environmentally friendly organic material made with Nopal cactus." The product is offered in different colors and textures, so it can be used for the manufacture of handbags, clothing, interiors, and other items.
3. Dryleaf: www.dryleaf.ca
Every day more businesses are offering substitutes for single-use plastics. This company offers bowls, plates and trays made with fallen leaves. While a coffee capsule takes around 500 years to decompose, according to WWF Australia, ecogreen products disintegrate rapidly in the environment, reducing environmental impact and preventing more garbage from ending up in the landfill.
4. Zero food waste foundation: www.zerofoodwaste.ca
Trying to reduce the amount of food that is wasted in Canada, this initiative seeks to establish communication between restaurants, hotels and catering companies with organizations that provide services to communities in need. This project has a social impact through the reduction of hunger by providing food to families that need it and an environmental impact since it reduces the emission of greenhouse gasses that would be generated if organic waste were sent to the landfill.
5. New harvest: www.new-harvest.org
New Harvest is a pioneer in the research of cellular agriculture, a new technology that allows the production of meat through a scientific process without using industrial farming methods. This non-profit organization proposes this idea as a solution that allows the production of food from animal cells without killing the animals. In addition, the resources are optimized by requiring less water, land and electricity. There is less generation of greenhouse gasses that contribute to climate change. Humans are less at risk of contracting diseases from bacteria and viruses that can be transmitted through animals.
6. Shameless: www.shamelesspets.com
Without a doubt, dogs and cats have become an important member of modern families and, aware of this, the Shameless brand offers a variety of treats and cakes for our pets. To manufacture its products, the company uses food ingredients that are in good condition but are discarded in farms or supermarkets because they do not meet the appearance standards required for their final sale. In order to produce their products, the company applies rigorous protocols to ensure that recycled ingredients meet quality standards. Finally, they also have a positive impact on the environment by reducing the amount of food that would go to waste.
7. Mori: www.mori.com
Much of the world's food waste occurs in the supply chain. To solve this problem, this company intends to use silk protein to cover food with a protective layer that allows it to preserve its freshness for longer. Although it seems like something out of a magic tale, this technology only uses salt, water and heat to extract protein from silk and create an all-natural, invisible and edible protective layer.
8. CDCREATIVE.ART: https://cdcreative.art/
Generally, objects that were fashionable at some point in history become obsolete with the arrival of new technologies. CDs are a clear example of this because despite having revolutionized the world of music in the 80s, they ended up being replaced by streaming services years later. It is not easy to know what to do with old and unusable compact discs, because they require special treatment as they are made of different materials. For example, Montreal does not have facilities to recycle CDs and, in most cases, these objects end up being disposed of in the landfill.
Faced with this situation, CDCREATIVE.ART arises, an innovative, different and disruptive proposal that offers unique pieces of art made with CDs. Jonathan Wilansky, its founder and TAV College professor, has not only created characters that could inhabit a science fiction world but has also found an alternative to give these elements a second life. The character designs, in addition to being creative and original, seek to spread the message of 'reduce, reuse, recycle'. Undoubtedly, this project is a commitment to art, to the generation of environmental awareness and a real example that shows that we can reuse the objects that surround us if we give freedom to our imagination.
Image source: Jonathan Wilansky
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