When faced with an epic plastic problem, what do you do? Kevin Kumala has created a new “plastic” bag made from cassava starch, which is 100% biodegradable, compostable, non-toxic, and even edible. Kumala claims the bioplastic leaves no trace of toxic residue, a point he demonstrates in his talk by dissolving and drinking it.
Kevin Kumala is an entrepreneur, researcher and adrenaline-seeker. His love for water sports like surfing and diving, and his resulting frustration with the amount of plastic pollution in the ocean, led him to find a sustainable solution to one of the world’s foremost waste issues. Inspired by innovative bioplastics made from corn and soy starch, Kumala drew on his education in biological sciences to create a new “plastic” bag made from cassava starch, which is 100% biodegradable, compostable, non-toxic, and even edible. In December 2016, a video of Kumala dissolving the bag in a glass of warm water and drinking it went viral. Today, his company Avani Eco produces a variety of compostable bioplastic products such as bags, food packaging and hospital bed covers. Kumala believes that is the responsibility of youth today to make the Earth a cleaner, greener place for future generations through thoughtful, socially impactful solutions.
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx
26 июл 2024
