Converting food waste into a sustainable

everyday benefit

Thursday July 19, 2018

Graeme Pearson

Carrot concrete

• Recently Lancaster Uni scientists created super strong concrete

• Created nano platelets out of cellulose from carrots and beet

• Decreased 60kg of cement per m³ of concrete without sacrificing

tensile strength or quality

• Other possible applications are printing inks and drilling fluids

• 10 million tonne of concrete is produced globally per annum

Rice husk moisturiser

Rice is one of the major global crops

Rice husks have proven a global waste issue

Have been burned for energy content in wax

The wax contains a high proportion of C18 fatty acids

Non palm oil stearic sources are now being sought

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Rice + glass = timber + bricks

• A new building product was recently created from rice husks,

ground glass and mycelium fungi

• Low carbon, fire resistant and termite deterrent

• Food waste + industrial waste into lightweight bricks

• 480million metric tonnes of rice; 20% rice husks

• Possible applications are insulation or particle board

Mango surfboard wax

Mango seed is a large proportion of the fruit

Currently presents a problem

Monash has been asked to investigate

The seed contains a high percentage of wax

Suggested as a potential niche application as surfboard wax

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Fast food emulsifiers

Mid 1980’s/early 1990’s considered waste problem

Commercial pressure considerations for export opportunities

An effective and problem solving procedure found

Exported emulsifiers to over seven diverse countries

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But wait there is more….

• Orange oil or D-limonene from waste citrus peel; Roughage

ground from sugar cane waste, bagasse

• Creative thinking

• Understanding the components of the waste

• Apply concepts to current end uses

• Research

Thank you.

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