After devastation, Kenaf Ventures holds fast to cleantech vision

Israeli cleantech firm Kenaf Ventures, based mostly in Kibbutz Kfar Aza, close to the Gaza Strip, sustained substantial injury throughout the incursion into Israeli by Hamas on October 7. The corporate is growing expertise based mostly on the kenaf plant for decreasing world greenhouse gasoline emissions, and says it’s now extra decided than ever to finish the launch of economic manufacturing at its just lately inaugurated manufacturing unit. It’s presently elevating the finance essential to proceed its operations, after a lot of its staff and buyers had been additionally severely affected by the brutal assault on the kibbutz, through which dozens of individuals, amongst them many kids, had been mutilated and killed.

Kenaf Ventures’ administration mentioned, “We mourn the tragic, premature passing of a lot of our companions – a uncommon mosaic of valuable people who’ve lengthy since grow to be household.

“Within the two days previous the catastrophe, we had been nonetheless planning within the pastoral tranquility of the kibbutz for the worldwide innovation that would scale back air air pollution and encourage the transition from using polluting uncooked supplies within the trade to ones with a destructive carbon footprint.

“It’s nonetheless too early to evaluate the size of the tragic occasions nonetheless occurring. Nonetheless, one factor is evident – we are going to proceed our life’s work, which is solid in a brave partnership with the residents of the Hatekuma (Resurrection) Area. We won’t permit anybody to discourage us.

“Sadly, this catastrophe broken the physique, soul, and funds of a lot of our firm’s companions, staff, and strategic buyers, requiring us to generate a subsequent spherical of financing. Not solely to rise and restore a way of normalcy however to proceed the trail we paved to fight carbon emissions and scale back the injury brought on by over-industrialization world wide with an accessible, cost-effective, straightforward, and fast resolution to implement on current techniques. We’re decided to unfold the phrase that may assist humanity scale back tons of of tens of millions of tons of CO2 and different pollution from the setting.”

Kenaf Ventures was based in 2018 by a bunch of serial entrepreneurs with confirmed expertise, together with Avishay Morag, Aviv Spiner, Asaf Ofer, Ido Hershkovits and Gideon Suzan. On the outset, the corporate was supported by the Israel Innovation Authority. It’s now out there penetration part, and addresses markets that it says are price tons of of billions.

The corporate focuses on two of probably the most difficult environmental issues: carbon dioxide absorption and fixation, and decreasing using polluting uncooked supplies. The corporate has developed groundbreaking patented options that use the Kenaf plant (Hibiscus cannabinus) for the pure absorption of carbon dioxide and its conversion into biomaterials.

Kenaf Ventures, which was based on the premise of a Zionist and pioneering imaginative and prescient, with the help of the Kafrit Group and Kibbutz Kfar Aza, has established a singular manufacturing unit for processing natural uncooked materials for industrial functions, near in depth Kenaf plantations. Kenaf is well-known for its mechanical properties and distinctive carbon dioxide absorption capabilities, and the flexibility to wash toxins and pollution from the soil. It was acknowledged by the United Nations-sponsored Kyoto Protocol for Local weather Change as a particularly vital crop in decreasing world warming.

Kenaf Ventures’ developments represent a game-changer in industrial sustainability. They are often simply and inexpensively utilized, whereas additionally bettering merchandise, at a aggressive worth.

Within the plastics trade, for instance, the corporate makes use of Kenaf as an alternative choice to petroleum-based plastics comparable to polypropylene, leading to a bioplastic compound with vital percentages of natural matter as a plastic substitute with the identical or, in some instances, improved materials properties.

Equally, the corporate is growing sustainable options for the development trade with a destructive carbon footprint and improved properties in parameters comparable to thermal and acoustic insulation, energy, weight, fireplace resistance, ease of implementation, and worth.

“From the very starting, it was clear to us that our developments to advertise decarbonization within the trade have to be these that may create an actual affect at a aggressive worth and on a major scale. Our infrastructure is able to penetrate markets comparable to america, Europe and Asia,” the corporate mentioned.

Revealed by Globes, Israel enterprise information – en.globes.co.il – on November 1, 2023.

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