Glow Sticks Made from Firefly Chemistry

I want to share a wonder and a hope from a conversation I had last week at the Blue Earth Summit. Over one billion chemical glow sticks are produced every year for the marine industry alone. That is seventeen million kilograms of plastic and ten million litres of harmful chemicals, and almost four and a half million kilograms of CO2, most of it ending up in the ocean. Last week I was told about a team in Vancouver called Lux Bio. (link below) They have created a glow stick made from plants, seaweed, and bioluminescent enzymes, the same chemistry that makes fireflies glow and deep sea creatures light up the darkness. These glow sticks are biodegradable and home compostable. Alongside the marine industry they are doing the same for entertainment. What if after an event or concert every glow stick could be composted, making healthy soil and contributing to a circular economy? Lux Bio are mimicking nature (biomimicry) and transforming an industry and I was blown away by this work last week.