A Scottish start-up has developed a material made from carrots and sugar beet that it claims is twice as strong as carbon fibre, and is taking on the multinationals such as Dow Chemical with its “eco” take on chemical additives.
Cellucomp, which is based in Burntisland, north of Edinburgh, has been working on a cellulose nano-fibre, which is extracted from root vegetables, for more than a decade. Curran, which is the Gaelic word for carrot, is an eco-friendly alternative to man-made variants that can release harmful chemicals into the atmosphere.
The innovative material can be used for hundreds of applications, from food to cosmetics and even concrete. Cellucomp is focusing on commercialising a product for the paints and coatings industry. When added to water-based paints, Curran thickens and strengthens the product, preventing cracking and “sagging”.