Product design brands tackling carbon emissions

Brands tackling carbon emissions: a look at industry initiatives and innovations

Throughout November, we are looking at the innovative brands tackling carbon emissions across industry sectors -from beauty and fashion to food & beverage, product design and materials, to technology, travel & hospitality.

Part 5: Product Design

With scientists warning that 10 gigatonnes of net CO2 will need to be removed from the atmosphere to keep the global temperature rise under 1.5°C by 2050, the urgent quest to meet net zero (or, increasingly, carbon positive) goals is sparking a cross-industry wave of innovation. As such, eco-minded brands are not only looking to reduce emissions but also exploring carbon sequestration – a sector that’s set to be worth $15.5bn by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 12.3% (Research & Markets, 2021).

Below, we look at the product industry leaders tackling carbon emissions

The world’s first laundry detergent to incorporate captured carbon has been created by LanzaTech, India Glycols and Unilever. The carbon is used to produce surfactants, which are typically derived from fossil fuels – a critical ingredient for creating the foam and cleansing action of many household cleaning and laundry products. The Omo laundry capsule, which launched in China in April 2021, costs the same as its regular, non-carbon-recycling counterpart.

Californian company Covalent creates fashion and tech accessories out of CO2. The process harnesses natural micro-organisms found in the ocean to transform polluted air into a meltable and mouldable biomaterial. This presents a sustainable substitute for the plastic used in eyewear, or a vegan alternative to leather for wallets and smartphone cases.

Captured Carbon Studio is a project from American artist Annalee Levin, which explores how carbon can be repurposed into new, aesthetic initiatives. It has since developed crayons made from upcycled carbon, pigments and beeswax, and worry stones designed for stressed-out consumers to hold.

Image credit: Captured Carbon Studio, Covalent

India-based Carbon Craft Design collects the powdered carbon waste produced during tyre recycling and, by mixing with cement, creates architectural tiles. All the tiles are handmade using traditional techniques in a variety of decorative designs, holding appeal for high-end residential and commercial spaces.

Celour (UK/South Korea) is a paint that harnesses mineral carbonation to capture and store carbon dioxide from the air. For every 135g of paint used, it can store 27g of CO2 – the equivalent of what a normal tree absorbs each day. The paint contains waste concrete powder generated from the concrete recycling industry, which would otherwise be sent to landfill, polluting the environment.