By 2050, it is expected that there will be more more waste plastic in the sea than fish. While recycling has become more of a focus for many people and businesses, only 5 percent of plastics are being recycled effectively. What’s more, 40 percent of recycled plastic is still making its way into landfills and 33 percent is ending up in fragile ecosystems such as the world’s oceans.
And, while waste is increasing, so is the need for energy. The international shipping industry is currently carrying approximately 90 percent of the world’s trade, relying on fuel to travel from port to port. BlueBenu, one of Green Business Bureau’s newest members, is addressing the increase of plastic pollution in the oceans by bridging the gap between the growing problem of waste and the need for eco-friendly power sources.
Based in Denmark, BlueBenu is currently working to develop a process that allows the conversion of plastic waste rescued from the oceans into eco-fuel. The process will help to reduce the CO2 footprint of shipping companies, while also decreasing the sulphur content of gas emissions from the overall maritime industry. In addition to providing a solution to ships, reducing CO2 and the sulphur content of emissions goes hand-in-hand with new global environmental policies, including the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. In fact, BlueBenu’s solutions work towards nine of the 17 UN SDG, specifically focused on the circular economy, gas emissions and waste management.
“We are inspired by nature!,” said BlueBenu CEO, Kamila Kunrath. “Because of this, we look at waste as a resource that can be upcycled into valuable products and reintegrated in the system. We believe that GBB certification will help to share and spread our values as a responsible business, especially regarding environmental solutions and approaches.”
The eco-fuel produced by BlueBenu uses clean, controlled, and smart technology with a zero-waste approach. Once ready for market, the fuel will be tested in and offered to the maritime marketplace, but the opportunity for plastic-based eco-fuel stretches far beyond the shipping industry. In time, BlueBenu’s unique solution may help to power more industries and businesses across the globe.
To learn more about BlueBenu, and their disruptive solution and approach to waste management, please visit: http://bluebenu.dk
