Israeli cleantech firm Kenaf Ventures, based mostly in Kibbutz Kfar Aza, close to the Gaza Strip, sustained substantial harm throughout the incursion into Israeli by Hamas on October 7. The corporate is growing expertise based mostly on the kenaf plant for lowering international greenhouse fuel emissions, and says it’s now extra decided than ever to finish the launch of economic manufacturing at its lately inaugurated manufacturing facility. It’s at the moment elevating the finance essential to proceed its operations, after lots of its employees and traders have been additionally severely affected by the brutal assault on the kibbutz, by which dozens of individuals, amongst them many youngsters, have been mutilated and killed.
Kenaf Ventures’ administration mentioned, “We mourn the tragic, premature passing of lots of our companions – a uncommon mosaic of treasured people who’ve lengthy since develop into household.
“Within the two days previous the catastrophe, we have been nonetheless planning within the pastoral tranquility of the kibbutz for the worldwide innovation that would cut back air air pollution and encourage the transition from the usage of polluting uncooked supplies within the trade to ones with a destructive carbon footprint.
“It’s nonetheless too early to evaluate the dimensions of the tragic occasions nonetheless occurring. However, one factor is obvious – we’ll proceed our life’s work, which is solid in a brave partnership with the residents of the Hatekuma (Resurrection) Area. We won’t enable anybody to discourage us.
“Sadly, this catastrophe broken the physique, soul, and funds of lots of our firm’s companions, workers, and strategic traders, requiring us to generate a subsequent spherical of financing. Not solely to rise and restore a way of normalcy however to proceed the trail we paved to fight carbon emissions and scale back the harm brought on by over-industrialization around the globe with an accessible, cost-effective, straightforward, and fast resolution to implement on current methods. We’re decided to unfold the phrase that may assist humanity scale back a whole lot of tens of millions of tons of CO2 and different pollution from the atmosphere.”
Kenaf Ventures was based in 2018 by a gaggle of serial entrepreneurs with confirmed expertise, together with Avishay Morag, Aviv Spiner, Asaf Ofer, Ido Hershkovits and Gideon Suzan. On the outset, the corporate was supported by the Israel Innovation Authority. It’s now available in the market penetration part, and addresses markets that it says are price a whole lot of billions.
The corporate focuses on two of essentially the most difficult environmental issues: carbon dioxide absorption and fixation, and lowering the usage of polluting uncooked supplies. The corporate has developed groundbreaking patented options that use the Kenaf plant (Hibiscus cannabinus) for the pure absorption of carbon dioxide and its conversion into biomaterials.
Kenaf Ventures, which was based on the idea of a Zionist and pioneering imaginative and prescient, with the assist of the Kafrit Group and Kibbutz Kfar Aza, has established a singular manufacturing facility for processing natural uncooked materials for industrial functions, near in depth Kenaf plantations. Kenaf is well-known for its mechanical properties and distinctive carbon dioxide absorption capabilities, and the flexibility to wash toxins and pollution from the soil. It was acknowledged by the United Nations-sponsored Kyoto Protocol for Local weather Change as an especially necessary crop in lowering international warming.
Kenaf Ventures’ developments represent a game-changer in industrial sustainability. They are often simply and inexpensively utilized, whereas additionally enhancing merchandise, at a aggressive worth.
Within the plastics trade, for instance, the corporate makes use of Kenaf as an alternative choice to petroleum-based plastics corresponding to polypropylene, leading to a bioplastic compound with vital percentages of natural matter as a plastic substitute with the identical or, in some instances, improved materials properties.
Equally, the corporate is growing sustainable options for the development trade with a destructive carbon footprint and improved properties in parameters corresponding to thermal and acoustic insulation, energy, weight, fireplace resistance, ease of implementation, and worth.
“From the very starting, it was clear to us that our developments to advertise decarbonization within the trade should be these that may create an actual influence at a aggressive worth and on a major scale. Our infrastructure is able to penetrate markets corresponding to the USA, Europe and Asia,” the corporate mentioned.
Revealed by Globes, Israel enterprise information – en.globes.co.il – on November 1, 2023.
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