Sustainability

Integrating biotechnology innovation into industry aligns closely with SDG 9, especially the sub-topic 9.4: “By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes, with all countries taking action in accordance with their respective capabilities.” We emphasized resource-use efficiency with our final device, as it captures more carbon dioxide with less mass of cyanobacteria and generally enables it to increase its photosynthesis rate, leading to growth and biomass production. In addition, it also complies further to 9.4.1: “CO₂ emission per unit of value added.” Through the usage of our device, it decreases CO₂ emissions for each unit of added value. This makes factory machines more sustainable as they reuse the carbon dioxide produced by cyanobacteria.

Our main objective of fixing carbon in cyanobacteria contributes to SDG goal 11 of “Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.” Specifically, our device creates a safer and sustainable community by the reduction of CO₂ pollution. This prevents the harmful effects of CO₂ pollution, such as food security and respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses, from continuing to negatively affect the community.

Our implementation of sustainable industrial processes where CO₂ is repurposed aligns with SDG 12, in particular, the target 12.6: “By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse.” This is further achieved through our methods for producing our device, which could prevent and reduce the waste of carbon dioxide, an essential fuel for cyanobacteria. Furthermore, we reached out to companies to promote the use of sustainable practices to decrease pollution produced, adhering to target 12.5: “Encourage companies, especially large and transnational companies, to adopt sustainable practices and to integrate sustainability information into their reporting cycle.” By promoting and implementing such industrial processes and initiate contact it enables and promotes effective consumption and production.

Our major goal of the project is to address greenhouse gas pollution, specifically the industrial part of emissions produced. This perfectly aligns with SDG 13: “Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.” Our CO₂llector aims to achieve such a goal by trying to increase its consumption of carbon dioxide, therefore decreasing the amount of greenhouse gases emitted by factories. Through our Science Fair booth, we educated people about the climate impact of greenhouse gas emissions. This adheres to target 13.3: “Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning.” Through our CO₂llector, we hope to create a clearer environment for people to live.

Our product provides a land-efficient alternative for carbon sequestration, along with the enhanced carbon fixation of cyanobacteria. This shows a sustainable use of freshwater ecosystems to mitigate climate change. This particularly corresponds to target 15.1: “By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests, wetlands, mountains and drylands, in line with obligations under international agreements.” The enhanced capture rate of carbon dioxide by cyanobacteria, as carbon emissions decrease, leads to a decrease in global temperature and stabilizes weather conditions, preventing the overheating of Earth, aiding the restoration of the environment.