Five companies convinced with their concepts and presentations and qualified for the final round:
- “EcoAct Tanzania” invented an energy-conserving technology which transforms post-consumer plastic garbage and packaging materials into durable plastic timbers,
- “Ecovon” from Ghana developed a formaldehyde-free, bio-based renewable wood alternative made from coconut husk and sugar cane bagasse;
- “Glassolina” (Egypt) up-cycles wood and plastic waste to produce composite sheets with superior properties, which can contribute to reducing the carbon footprint of buildings;
- The US-based “Reuse Design Laboratory” developed a lightweight, isolative masonry block system containing up to 90% recycled drywall waste, thus addressing the problem of the growing landfill rate of construction and demolition waste,
- “Zila Works” (USA) invented with 100% BPA-free epoxy resin made from industrial hemp, for use in composites and other industrial applications, such as coatings.
The finalists of the ISC3 Innovation Challenge 2019/2020 were chosen by a panel of 16 international, independent reviewers from the ISC3 partner organizations, the ISC3 Advisory Board, and external experts assigned by the ISC3. The winner will be announced at the Investor Forum and Innovation Showcase (October 21-23, 2020)
About ISC3
ISC3 is a new independent, international institution promoting and developing sustainable chemistry solutions worldwide. It is a globally acting institution, a multi-stakeholder platform, and think-tank that engages with civil society, politics, and the private sector to contribute to international chemicals policies and the formation of a global network for collaboration, innovation, research, and education on sustainable chemistry. The ISC3 was founded in 2017 on the initiative of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) and the German Environment Agency (UBA). It is hosted by the German giz (Gesellschaft für internationale Zusammenarbeit) and supported by its Research & Education Hub at Leuphana University, Lüneburg, and Innovation Hub at DECHEMA e.V., Frankfurt.
