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Pulp Fiction or Global Solution?Written by CIN member: Alf Wheeler of Zeo International Martin Ernegg, a bio-mimicry expert that has reverse-engineered the way nature builds trees, has partnered with Alf Wheeler, a successful entrepreneur in the global raw materials business, to commercialise a revolutionary eco-friendly raw material. Their company is called ZEO and the new material is called Zeoform.
They aim to create and lead an eco-friendly industry by transforming waste paper into a super-strong, lightweight, mouldable material suitable for a diverse mix of mass-market products - from computer cases to airline interiors - with an initial focus on sustainable automotive, furniture and commercial construction markets. Most mass-market materials cause damage to the environment in the process of manufacture, use or disposal. Increasing global consumption is accelerating environmental damage - such as forests decimated for timber, toxic emissions from plastics, or workplace ailments caused by chemicals, fibreglass and other processes. Zeoform granules are made from water and recycled cellulose - such as waste paper or discarded fabric - using a unique patented process. Since there are no toxins used, there are none emitted at any stage of processing or manufacturing. Used or discarded consumer products can either biodegrade alongside garden waste, or be recycled back to make more Zeoform granules... making it a perfect model of sustainable industry. The pulp formed by mixing Zeoform with water can be poured, sprayed, pressed, moulded or shaped; then dried, worked, coloured, finished and coated – resulting in a durable, high-tensile substance with densities ranging from a resilient translucent skin to an ebony-like hardness, in a vast range of textures, colours and surface treatments. “We believe we have found the 'Holy Grail' of sustainable materials” says CEO Alf Wheeler, who has invested all of his time and a great deal of resources to see it be adopted by progressive global companies. "From early adoption to mass-market proliferation, Zeoform products will transform the world, just as plastics did in the 1950's," he says. Unlike current methods for recycling cellulose, Zeoform moves the recycled material up the value chain and the durability chain. It provides an exciting and truly sustainable alternative to wood, wood composites, petro-chemical plastics, resins and fibreglass. Zeoform's inventor Martin Ernegg realised that environmental benefits alone were not enough for a new material to be adopted. It would have to stand up to, and compete against, other materials in performance, function, aesthetics and cost. Zeoform easily ticks all these boxes and more. Zeo has manufactured award-winning furniture, lightshades, homeware items, jewellery & fashion accessories, a variety of musical instruments and industrial components. In February, Perth based designer Wilma van Boxtel won the Edge 2009 Green award at the Australian International Furniture Show for her ZeoPod adding to a string of International Awards that Zeo have received. Glimpsing the future, Zeo have plans to initiate a technology that transforms white water effluent from paper manufacturing plants, into Zeoform products. Zeo has patented the processing technology and plans to licence it to the paper making industry, where most of the infrastructure, machinery and raw material are already in-situ, ensuring the capital set-up costs for manufacturing plants are minimised during economically challenging times. Further plans to partner with raw materials companies will ensure access to mass distribution, manufacturer and customer networks. "The entire business model is based on core principles of sustainability. We asked ourselves how we could operate with minimum impact and expense, re-using that which already exists... and wherever possible, without duplicating resources or infrastructure" says Alf Wheeler. Would you like to discuss this topic with other members?
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