The 2023 Ray of Hope Prize has been awarded to Sparxell, a UK-based startup creating the next generation of colours and effects with vibrant, metal-like pigments, all from plant-based cellulose.
- By utilising cellulose in pigment creation, Sparxell shows how nature can colour the world without the harmful environmental and societal effects of mined and synthetic minerals.
- The award is given by the Biomimicry Institute. Sparxell will receive $100,000 in recognition of their groundbreaking, nature-inspired work.
The Context: Conventional substances used to make cosmetics, fabrics, paints, and packaging bright and colourful often include metal or oil-derived ingredients.
- For example, the most common pigment, titanium dioxide, causes a white colouration and is used in products from toothpaste to paper. Titanium dioxide has recently been recognised as a carcinogen and banned from food and pharmaceutical products in the EU.
- Besides, many pigments are mined in areas with high incident rates of human rights abuses, and where water is scarce. There are some bio-derived alternatives, but none have been able to compete at cost… until Sparxell.
The Technology: Inspired by structural colour found in nature, such as that of a butterfly wing or peacock feather, Sparxell’s patented manufacturing technique transforms cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) into uniformly reflective, highly dispersible particles with state-of-the-art performance.
- The pigments are a fully biodegradable, easier-to-source alternative with an unlimited range of vibrant colours.
- Because they can tune the structural colour pigments to reflect specific bands of light, their pigments even enable new types of colour.
- All this is possible while adhering to the recent EU regulations on microplastics like glitter.
The Start: The project has its roots in the University of Cambridge’s Bio Inspired Photonics Lab, where Sparxell’s founders replicated the exact nanostructure that gives the fruit of Pollia condensata (marble berry) its vibrant blue colour using cellulose and nothing else.
- Now, the growing team is poised to transform industries as diverse as cosmetics, paints, fabrics, automobile coatings, and packaging, with sustainable vibrant colourants representing a $65 billion market overall.
The Award: The Ray of Hope Prize, created in honour of the last sustainable business pioneer Ray C Anderson, is awarded each year to the world’s top nature-inspired startup after 10 finalist teams conclude a 10-week accelerator programme.
- This year, Sparxell, and the nine other participating companies were selected from a pool of 215 applicants from 54 different countries.
- The finalists and recipients were chosen through a series of expert judging panels, which included investors and trusted experts in the fields of biomimicry, industry, and entrepreneurship.
- The 2023 Ray of Hope Prize was made possible by partners—the Ray C Anderson Foundation, with support from the Bentley Environmental Foundation, and L’Oréal.
- The Biomimicry Institute is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization founded in 2006 that empowers people to seek nature-inspired solutions for a healthy planet.
What they said:
We are proud to support Sparxell as the 2023 recipient of the Ray of Hope Prize for their work to eliminate toxic chemicals from colourants. The incredible Sparxell team has developed a truly unique performance pigment from plant-based cellulose and in the process has set a new eco standard for a diversity of industries. As a platform technology, the potential environmental and social impact of this solution is huge. We couldn’t be more excited to support them on their journey.
— Sarah McInerney
Ray of Hope Programme Manager
Biomimicry Institute
