New Nike biomaterial to replace plastic
California-based biomaterial company Newlight Technologies recently announced its partnership with fellow US company Nike.
The intention is to allow the sportswear giant to explore the use of Newlight’s AirCarbon material, described as a carbon-negative biomaterial generated by naturally occurring microorganisms from the ocean, in a variety of product applications.
AirCarbon reportedly consists of roughly 40% oxygen from air and 60% carbon from greenhouse gas by weight. It is produced organically in the cells of the ocean microorganisms, who eat the air and greenhouse gas and naturally convert it into the energy storage material polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) - or AirCarbon.
The material can be melted into fibre, sheets and solid shapes, among other forms, to replace plastic-derived synthetics, for example. It has been certified carbon negative by SCS Global Services, Newlight stated.
Commenting on the development, Nike’s chief sustainability officer, Noel Kinder, said: “AirCarbon offers an opportunity to further reduce our impact on the planet.
“Materials account for 70% of Nike’s total carbon footprint and we’re accelerating our efforts and exploring new opportunities in this space, because in the race against climate change, we can’t wait for solutions, we have to work together to create them.”
Newlight chief executive, Mark Herrema, added: “Our mission is to change at scale and there are few better partners in the world than Nike to help achieve that. We’re excited to explore how AirCarbon can help Nike decarbonise its products and achieve its ambitious carbon reduction goals.”
Image: Newlight Technologies.
