Page 179 - CW E-Magazine (3-12-2024)

Special Report Special Report

ISC3 INVESTOR FORUM 2024

Navigating the future of sustainable chemistry

and textiles

ow can innovations in Sustain- present our vision. We started with the the chance to win an audience award
able Chemistry drive a more goal of replacing harmful chemicals, for their pitch.
Hsustainable textile industry? such as PFAS, in conventional textile
Which factors play a role for inves- membranes, which led to the develop- The Audience Award went to The-
tors and potential customers for suc- ment of Dimpora’s CoreLayer techno- seus Development from Ghana for its
cessful sustainability-driven start-ups? logy. Today, our patented PFAS-free geopolymer-based cement alternative
And what are future promising trends membranes protect both people and the using an abundant, natural material.
in Sustainable Chemistry in the textile planet.” The geopolymer can be used as thermo-
sector? and cost-effi cient building blocks for
Special Impact Awards the building industry. The start-up aims
These pivotal questions were at In addition to the Innovation Award, to accelerate the transition to a green
the forefront of the 6th ISC3 Investor the ISC3 also presented two Special built environment by empowering production cycle, providing each pro- Catalyzing change: Financing emphasised the importance of honest
Forum 2024, held during the Impact Impact Awards, each worth €5,000: builders to create sustainable commu- duct with a unique genetic identifi er. innovation in Sustainable communication to avoid greenwashing.
Festival on October 30-31 at Forum One to Renasens from Sweden for its nities with geopolymer concrete. Chemistry and Textiles And while Sophia Escheu, Associate at
Messe Frankfurt. Answers were pro- innovative waterless textile recycling Egrobots (Egypt) revolutionizes The innovation showcase wasn’t Speedinvest (France/Germany), identi-
vided not only by international experts technology, and one to Polybion from Six other start-ups agriculture with AI-powered robots and the only highlight at the Investor fi ed promising sectors in the textile in-
from various fi elds, but also by fi ve Mexico, awarded for its Celium leather Alongside the winners of the ISC3 data analytics. The start-up provides Forum 2024: “As the world grapples dustry that can drive signifi cant change,
start-ups who presented their ideas at alternative made from agro-industrial Innovation Challenge, six other start- farmers precision solutions for crop with sustainability challenges including such as automated fashion processes
the Innovation Challenge, which was waste. ups presented their groundbreaking health, optimizing yields and promoting the textile sector, our event gathered and AI-driven research and develop-
once again one of the highlights of the ideas at the ISC3 Investor Forum 2024: sustainable farming practices. once again industry leaders, innovators ment, Thomas Rehmet from the Centre
Investor Forum. The Mexican start-up uses locally and investors to discuss the ecosystem’s for Entrepreneurship at the University of
produced agro-industrial fruit waste as AppCyclers (Ghana) operates a Nina Energy (Ecuador) is a science- challenges and opportunities,” pointed Reutlingen and the Textile. Accelerator
What they all have in common is raw material to craft forward-thinking web-based marketplace platform that based start-up that develops high-tech out Dr. Thomas Wanner, Managing (Germany) pointed out the crucial role
that their innovations contribute to a biomaterials such as Celium, a premium digitizes the collection, sourcing, and pyrolysis equipment on-site with Director of ISC3. of circular business models in achieving
more sustainable textile industry and cultivated cellulose. Celium can be purchasing of e-waste by connecting locally sourced materials and work- true sustainability.
are supported by the International dyed, embossed and tanned using exist- generators, recyclers, and off-takers, force, reducing CAPEX and lead times With a short impulse, he introduced
Sustainable Chemistry Collaborative ing infrastructure, resulting in a lower streamlining the entire lifecycle. while creating economic opportunities. ISC3 and Sustainable Chemistry, setting Masterclass
Centre (ISC3). But in the end, there negative environmental impact than Their tech adaptability ensures effi cient the stage for the panel discussion, where The fi nal highlight at the end of the
could only be one winner: the Swiss traditional fabrics. AR-ENA (Jordan) produces a new resource utilization and the generation international experts provided insights programme of the ISC3 Investor Forum
start-up Dimpora with its ground- type of hydrogel – polymers which of carbon credits that are traded in the into the challenges and opportunities 2024 was a masterclass titled “What
breaking PFAS-free textile membrane. “We are proud and honoured to absorb air humidity and capture liquids voluntary market. of fi nancing innovation in the fi eld of Dimension of Sustainability Does Your
present these Sustainable Chemistry and can be used as a replacement for Sustainable Chemistry and textiles. Start-up Impact?”, where participants
Innovation Challenge Award innovations within the textile sector – soil in hydroponics and as a replace- Schutzen Care Pvt. Ltd. (India) engaged in interactive exercises and
Dimpora won the main prize in the an industry requiring urgent changes ment or assistant for the irrigation pro- develops bio-based and biodegradable “You need to be environmentally case studies on Sustainable Chemistry
€25,000 Innovation Challenge for its in its current practices, and thus, in cess and systems. The innovation aims textile and leather chemicals that sup- positive, not just avoid harm,” highlighted and the different sustainability dimen-
CoreLayer technology, which is de- dire need of innovative solutions to to revolutionize agriculture by reducing port biodiversity. These chemicals are Miguel Ramôa, Chief of Innovation sions. This year’s Impact Festival
signed to replace harmful chemicals in mitigate the pressure on the environ- water usage by up to 65% while signi- based on the valorisation of bio-waste and Sustainability at Adalberto Textile attracted over 4,500 visitors from 40
conventional textile membranes. Co- ment and support sustainability,” stated fi cantly boosting crop yields. from the seeds of a local tree fruit and Solutions (Portugal), the necessity of countries, among them more than 250
founder Mario Stucki expressed his Dr. Alexis Bazzanella, Director of the are produced using Schutzen’s patented aspiring for true sustainability. Thomasine investors, and showcased over 200
gratitude: “Winning the ISC3 Innovation ISC3 Innovation Hub. DNACotton (Türkiye) has deve- reaction technology. The innovation Dolan Dow, Director of Material Inno- innovative solutions, including the
Award 2024 here at the Impact Festival loped a block-chain based traceability reduces carbon emissions, provides an vation and Design at MII (USA), who 10 Sustainable Chemistry solutions
is much more than just an award for us. Audience Award system in the textile sector by engaging alternative to hazardous substances, also took part in the discussion modera- presented at the ISC3 Investor Forum.
It is the culmination of an incredible Furthermore, fi ve other start-ups DNABarkod technology. This tech- thereby reducing risks to human health, ted by Astrid Ewaz, Certifi ed Expert in
journey. We were already overjoyed supported by ISC3 presented them- nology involves the genetic tagging reducing water pollution and promoting Sustainable Finance and Project Manager ISC3’s 7th Investor Forum edition
to be here as one of the fi nalists and to selves at the Impact Festival and had of products at various stages of the biodiversity. at ISC3 Innovation Hub (Germany), is scheduled for autumn/winter 2025.

178 Chemical Weekly December 3, 2024 Chemical Weekly December 3, 2024 179

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