Cellsense

Developing alternatives to beads in the form of scalable bio-embellishments while eliminating microplastics and unethical labour from the industry

Long description

Conventional embellishments are produced utilizing petroleum plastics and resins, and then manually assembled into garments. Beaded garments are worn about five times before they end up in landfills contributing to microplastic crisis.

In response, Cellsense has developed a proprietary method to transform algae and cellulose into durable, transparent bio-embellishments with water resistance, and appropriate texture. To replace toxic dyes used in traditional embellishments we engineered bacteria to produce vivid colors and unique properties like bioluminescence.

Recognizing the labor-intensive nature of beadwork, we’ve implemented automation to support ethical labor practices. We use a bead loom and robotic syringe to efficiently create large-scale graphic beaded panels in seven minutes, which would take four hours by hand. To make individual embellishments on a mass scale, we have demonstrated that our raw materials can be used with electrodeposition, a technique that streamlines production and lowers energy consumption, forming beads in just 3 minutes.