John F. Kennedy Library Foundation | 2024 Earthshot Innovation Challenge Finalist: Cellsense @JFKLF | Uploaded September 2024 | Updated October 2024, 7 hours ago.
The JFK Library Foundation, in partnership with The Earthshot Prize, announces the finalists for the Earthshot Innovation Challenge: Northeast U.S. Edition to ignite Northeast-U.S.-based innovations to address climate change.
Cellsense
Over 60 billion embellished products are made annually. These are used only five times on average before being discarded, introducing hundreds of billions of non-recyclable beads into the environment, which persist as sources of microplastics and bioaccumulative chemicals. Workers in the embellishment industry suffer from serious health issues due to exposure to toxic materials and dyes used in the production process.
Cellsense offers a sustainable solution by creating biodegradable embellishments from algae and cellulose. Their products eliminate microplastic pollution entirely and replace toxic dyes with microbial alternatives that use 430 times less water. Cellsense's innovative process automates the production of beaded fabric, making it 20 times faster and 70% more cost-effective than conventional methods, ensuring scalability and economic viability.
In pilot projects, Cellsense has already replaced 50,000 plastic beads in 3,000 products, preventing the release of 1.5 tons of microplastics into the environment. With over 25 brands seeking their sustainable embellishments, Cellsense is primed for large-scale adoption. By 2026, they plan to integrate their bio-embellishments into the product lines of 100+ brands, eliminating 50,000 tons of plastic waste annually—the equivalent of filling 40 Olympic-sized pools. Beyond waste reduction, Cellsense's bio-embellishments cut CO₂ emissions by 80% and improve working conditions by eliminating toxic chemicals from the production process. Cellsense is positioned to lead the fashion industry toward a more sustainable and responsible future.
The JFK Library Foundation, in partnership with The Earthshot Prize, announces the finalists for the Earthshot Innovation Challenge: Northeast U.S. Edition to ignite Northeast-U.S.-based innovations to address climate change.
Cellsense
Over 60 billion embellished products are made annually. These are used only five times on average before being discarded, introducing hundreds of billions of non-recyclable beads into the environment, which persist as sources of microplastics and bioaccumulative chemicals. Workers in the embellishment industry suffer from serious health issues due to exposure to toxic materials and dyes used in the production process.
Cellsense offers a sustainable solution by creating biodegradable embellishments from algae and cellulose. Their products eliminate microplastic pollution entirely and replace toxic dyes with microbial alternatives that use 430 times less water. Cellsense's innovative process automates the production of beaded fabric, making it 20 times faster and 70% more cost-effective than conventional methods, ensuring scalability and economic viability.
In pilot projects, Cellsense has already replaced 50,000 plastic beads in 3,000 products, preventing the release of 1.5 tons of microplastics into the environment. With over 25 brands seeking their sustainable embellishments, Cellsense is primed for large-scale adoption. By 2026, they plan to integrate their bio-embellishments into the product lines of 100+ brands, eliminating 50,000 tons of plastic waste annually—the equivalent of filling 40 Olympic-sized pools. Beyond waste reduction, Cellsense's bio-embellishments cut CO₂ emissions by 80% and improve working conditions by eliminating toxic chemicals from the production process. Cellsense is positioned to lead the fashion industry toward a more sustainable and responsible future.
