-New technology uses small concentrations of
compostable graphene oxide as a barrier to oils and moisture for
food packaging, paper plates, straws, cups, and utensils-
EVANSTON, Ill., Aug. 9, 2024
/PRNewswire/ -- The contamination and risks from microplastic
particles and PFAs (poly-fluoroalkyl substances) in America's food
supply may soon become a thing of the past, thanks to a joint
venture between Northwestern
University's INVO Lab and engineering firm Chang
Robotics. The newest initiative to emerge from the company's IP
Studio, GOEco™, is a scientific breakthrough that
infuses microscopic amounts of graphene oxide into paper products
or any compostable barrier property. The first objective of GOEco
is to replace the pervasive use of plastics in food packaging,
paper plates, and disposable utensils.
"The technology behind GOEco is a
breakthrough that could impact not only our food supply but our
health."
As recently reported in SmartTechDaily, experts
are increasingly alarmed about the dangers of "forever chemicals"
-- the microplastic particles and PFAs (poly-fluoroalkyl
substances) that have been proven to accumulate in our bodies and
our food supplies such as the fish we consume. Consumer protection
agencies are increasingly pressing suppliers to keep PFA substances
out of our environment, away from our clothing, and out of our
bodies.
However, a patent-pending innovation from Northwestern University's INVO Lab and Chang
Robotics will make disposable tableware much more environmentally
friendly by infusing paper packaging and other barrier materials
with small amounts of graphene oxide, a naturally occurring
nanomaterial comprised of carbon with some oxygen and OH ions.
Through a development initiative by Dr. SonBinh Nguyen of
Northwestern University and Dr.
Tim Wei, a former
dean of engineering at a Big 10 university, the company discovered
how to formulate and manufacture graphene oxide and tested its use
on disposable tableware with the goal of becoming the leading
sustainable replacement for plastic packaging.
"The technology behind GOEco is a breakthrough that could impact
not only our food supply but could play a critical role in
protecting our reproductive ability and substantially increasing
our health," said Chang Robotics CEO Matthew Chang.
Interestingly, the testing also shows the new packaging to be
highly superior to plastic in maintaining food freshness as it
inhibits the transfer of moisture, oil, or gases between the food
and the surrounding environment.
Next Steps
According to Dr. Wei and Chang Robotics, the company's own
laboratory testing and review of scientific literature are pointing
to the safety and sustainability of the company's implementation.
The company is working with industry partners to pursue regulatory
evaluations to determine and document the safety of graphene oxide
for food packaging use and obtain FDA approvals. The company is
welcoming commercial partnerships in the advancement of this
discovery.
About Chang Robotics
Chang Robotics, a dba of Chang Industrial, is an
engineering firm that specializes in advanced manufacturing,
collaborative robotics, and disruptive automation. Chang Industrial
seeks to revolutionize supply chain automation and improve
workforce productivity through human-focused robotic
implementations and autonomous systems. We create future-facing
technology road maps that help companies of all sizes to advance
their technology initiatives. Chang Industrial has received
numerous awards and experienced rapid growth since its founding in
2017 and was named a Top 10 Global Supply Chain Leader by IE
Magazine in 2022. For more information,
visit ChangRobotics.ai on LinkedIn.
View original content to download
multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/chang-robotics-announces-goeco-a-green-technology-poised-to-end-forever-chemicals-302218464.html
SOURCE Chang Robotics