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Unilever is investing millions in seaweed: the FMCG producer is developing cleaning agents with algae and wants to use them to create self-cleaning surfaces. The creator of products such as Cif and Dove believes it to be a promising market.
Dirt doesn t stick
Are we going to clean with seaweed soon? With this in mind, Unilever is entering into a joint venture with investment group Innova Partnerships. Together they want to market Lactam, a biotechnology that prevents dirt and microbes from adhering to surfaces thanks to seaweed. Layers of biofilm cannot form on seaweed. It is always clean because it has developed its own defence mechanism, explains Vice-President Jonathan Hague to the Financial Times.
Shoes, banknotes and other surfaces could soon be able to clean themselves and prevent the build-up of bacteria thanks to a new natural seaweed compound.
Unilever and Innova Partnerships are working on a product made from the organic compound Lactam, which can block bacteria and mould on everyday surfaces.
The chemical giant says the new patented technology has been in development for over a decade, including work studying natural chemicals in seaweed.
It has a range of potential uses including preventing fungal growth in washing machines, self cleaning banknotes and even in the medical field, Unilever says.
The company makes Cif and Domestos, although they haven t said whether the technology will be included in existing products or will be a new product.