Zeo Africa, established earlier this year in South Africa, has begun marketing a molding material derived from recycled waste fibers that it says could revolutionize Africa’s manufacturing industries.
The material forms a strong, lightweight, load-bearing substance called Zeoform, the company says.
The patented product was developed by Australian company Zeo IP PTY Ltd.
Zeoform offers manufacturers a biodegradable alternative for such products as automotive interiors, furniture, computer cases, even prefab and flat panels for the architectural and building industries, according to Zeo Africa CEO Ben van Rooyen, who maintains exclusive proprietary intellectual property of Zeo IP in South Africa.
“Zeoform is made from two of the most abundant things on the planet, cellulose and water,” van Rooyen said. “Zeoform is cheap to produce and doesn’t contain glues, binders or chemicals of any kind. Our patented process converts waste fiber into granulated pulp, which is then dried to form an industrial-strength structural material.”
Cellulose consists of recycled waste paper, waste cloth, discarded plant fiber, and paper mill waste. Commercial crops such as cotton, hemp, jute/flax, sugarcane, coconut, and many others provide an ample source of cellulose.
Converted into granules and mixed with water to form a raw pulp, Zeoform moves this waste up the value and durability chain, unlike current avenues for recycling, regenerating it into a valuable commodity, the company says.
The Zeoform pulp can be sprayed, formed, or pressed into a plethora of shapes and configurations.
“By replacing unsustainable and environmentally harmful alternatives such as plastics and wood composites and fiberglass, we expect to see Zeoform in every household in the world in the near future,” van Rooyen said. “Whether it’s your kitchen cupboards, the furniture in your home, the casing and components to your electronics, or the material with which your entire house is built.”
Rather than make its own products, the company plans to supply Zeoform as a raw material to the furniture and construction industries. Van Rooyen said he believes he can grow his company far more quickly that way, by being able to leverage on the production, sales, marketing, and distribution channels of current manufacturers and suppliers.
“It’s a game-changing technology,” he said. “It will generate a new global industry, much like plastic did. A ubiquitous, eco-friendly material used on all continents, in nearly all industries, in order to produce endless, innovative industrial and consumer products.”
Van Rooyen believes his company’s product will help transform the planet to a more balanced and sustainable environment.
Zeoform, he said, is customizable, durable, can be made into different shapes and waterproofed, and is compatible with all building techniques and technologies.
“We intend to be a leading African supplier for companies seeking biodegradable and recyclable raw materials,” he said.
