Existing flame retardants can be hazardous to both humans and the environment. Engineering students at the University of Waterloo have developed a biologically based non-toxic flame retardant that helps prevent fires without using harmful chemicals.
Using seaweed, the team developed two non-toxic, environmentally friendly coating formulations that meet and exceed industry requirements. What first started as a capstone project, has now received national and international attention with the students planning on commercializing their innovation through their start-up company AlgoBio and reaching other markets.
The team is leveraging the incubator and accelerator network across Ontario’s universities and has since joined the Creative Destruction Lab at the University of Toronto.
For more information, visit the University of Waterloo.
