Research collaboration developing sustainable textile coating inspired by bees
Summary
Melbourne, 12 April 2022: In a bid to replace the harmful chemicals used in durable water repellent (DWR) textile coatings, a new research collaboration is developing a sustainable alternative made from biopolymers.The Innovative Manufacturing Cooperative Research Centre (IMCRC) has granted New Zealand based biotechnology research company, Humble Bee Bio, and Deakin University $70,000 to develop and sample the coatings.The 7-month project, worth a total of $566,000 cash and in-kind funding, will be based at Deakins Institute for Frontier Materials (IFM) and supported by the Australian National Fabrication Facility.Veronica Harwood-Stevenson, Humble Bee Bios CEO and Founder, said the research collaboration would be instrumental to the success of the next stage of development for Humble Bee Bios novel biopolymer.By mimicking the properties of the solitary masked bees cellophane-like nesting material, we have created a biopolymer thats water-repellent and resistant to flames, high temperatures and strong chemicals, she said.This research collaboration will enable Humble Bee Bio to take our proof of concept and develop a formulation and production method for sustainable DWR biopolymer coatings.Australia is poised to become an advanced biomanufacturing centre of the world, and we are thrilled to be part of building that success.Professor Joselito Razal, Director of ARC Research Hub for Future Fibres at IFM, said the project reinforced Deakins commitment to re-designing materials for a circular economy.Deakin University will utilise its world class expertise and facilities in fibre and materials science to facilitate Humble Bee Bios vision of a sustainable Australian textile industry, he said.Dr Dylan Hegh, IFMs Circular Economy Initiatives Manager and project lead, added that the research would provide Humble Bee Bio with an advanced understanding of the novel material and its properties.In refining the formulation, this collaboration has the potential to uncover new and unforeseen applications for the biopolymer and catalyse further research and development into advanced biomanufacturing, he said.Dr Matthew Young, IMCRCs Manufacturing Innovation Manager, said IMCRC was pleased to be supporting trans-Tasman industry-university research collaboration by co-funding the development of Humble Bee Bios biopolymer.Novel advanced materials are playing a crucial role in achieving a more sustainable future for Australia and the rest of the world, he said.Once commercialised, Humble Bee Bios sustainable DWR coatings have the potential to bridge a significant gap that exists within the textiles industry today.By uniting industries and research institutions, we create an ecosystem that drives innovation and commercialisation, generating significant opportunities in specialised, high-value manufacturing.IMCRC is an independent and for-impact cooperative research centre with a successful, proven and scalable model for catalysing research and business partnerships that drives transformative commercial outcomes for participating Australian manufacturers. More information is available at www.imcrc.org.IMCRCs activate program was introduced in 2020 to support shorter-term, industry-led research projects that help Australian manufacturers take action and gain a competitive edge in the post-COVID-19 world. Humble Bee Bio has the potential to disrupt multiple industries with a novel bioplastic based on a protein discovered in nature and biosynthesised with precision fermentation. The Humble Bee Bio team is exceptional, with experience scaling and selling synthetic biology companies, replacing toxic materials in the textiles supply chain, and tailoring and tuning genetics for amplified performance. We address material challenges in the energy, mining, environment, health, transport and manufacturing sectors.For more information, please contact: