In California, waste management technology firm bioforcetech has unveiled a pigment produced from sewage sludge.
The company displayed the technology at Dutch Design Week, where its booth featured a sleek black planter made from polylactic acid and its OurCarbon pigment.
bioforcetech said OurCarbon could replace coal-based materials while at the same time diverting materials like food waste and biosolids from landfills, where they would break down into methane, a potent greenhouse gas.
The process involves drying the materials with thermophilic bacteria, followed by a pyrolysis step. The pigment is also suitable for paints, wood stains, and screen printing.