Log InCan Concrete Be Sustainable? New Technology Could Pave the Way
POSTED ON January 31, 2023 | BY Zters
The EPA has been preaching about the benefits of composting for years now. Given that an overwhelming amount of food is wasted every day, recycling food waste is a necessary alternative to tossing it in the garbage. Not to mention, composting has a better environmental impact and reduces greenhouse gas emission in landfills.
These organic scraps have been converted into everything from straws to utensils to nutrient-rich fertilizer and now…cement!
In 2022, researchers from the University of Tokyo launched a startup turning food waste into cement, Fabula Inc. This innovative technology has produced durable cement that is also edible. Using optimal temperatures and pressures, the researchers created a hardened block made of foods such as pumpkin, Chinese cabbage, orange and onion peels, and seaweed to name just a few.
That’s right. Someday you might see construction workers munching on their materials! Probably not, but it’s a funny thought…
While there may be some skepticism around the cement’s integrity over time, tests have proven that the edible cement is resistant to degradation and is even stronger than traditional cement in some cases. To enforce its strength, the edible cement can be coated with lacquer.
While the technology is still in the development phase to be used in construction, many other companies have sought out inventors interested in creating furniture and objects from this edible cement.
The implications here are quite promising and could transform the construction industry down the line. We could see more sustainable construction materials that could significantly reduce human-caused environmental harm. And who knows? Maybe these innovations will be tasty, too.