What's all the buzz about BC?
Bacterial cellulose (BC), grown from the symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast found in Kombucha, is a low-impact alternative to traditional paper products. Dried and dyed, it makes a sturdy basis for our milk cartons.
Where do the bees come in?
On its own, BC is extremely hydrophilic, absorbing 40% of its mass in water after being dipped in water for only five seconds. Our team tackled the challenge of making BC a viable liquid container via waterproof coating.
Our team explored a range of coatings, including corn zein, casein, and alginate, before turning to nature for inspiration. Land plants have waxy cuticles as waterproof barriers between their bodies and their environments. Our team decided to try coating our BC swatches with beeswax. The results were astounding - beeswax proved at least 100 times more effective than any previous coating!
One ongoing challenge has been completely covering the BC swatches without bubbles or cracks letting in water. We are currently testing different combinations of heating and double-coating our swatches in order to maximize hydrophobicity.
Our team explored a range of coatings, including corn zein, casein, and alginate, before turning to nature for inspiration. Land plants have waxy cuticles as waterproof barriers between their bodies and their environments. Our team decided to try coating our BC swatches with beeswax. The results were astounding - beeswax proved at least 100 times more effective than any previous coating!
One ongoing challenge has been completely covering the BC swatches without bubbles or cracks letting in water. We are currently testing different combinations of heating and double-coating our swatches in order to maximize hydrophobicity.