12 Jul 2018

Christchurch City Council’s Innovation and Sustainability Fund has supported a locally developed technology that can turn a highly invasive river weed into useful eco-friendly products.

The Didymo fibre conversion is the brainchild of a Christchurch-based company, Biome, and is one of 23 local projects that has received funding, with further applications under consideration.

Biome founder Logan Williams.

Biome founder Logan Williams has found a way of turning didymo into a fibre. Photo: University of Canterbury.

Biome, founded by University of Canterbury student Logan Williams, has received $10,000 towards the harvesting and processing of Didymo – also known as “rock snot” – into material that can be used for a range of items, such as plates and fabrics. Biome products can be moulded into any shape and are durable, non-toxic and biodegradable.

“Through the Innovation and Sustainability Fund we want to identify and support projects that allow our community, environment and economy to thrive,'' says the Council's Principal Sustainability Adviser, Tony Moore.

 “We co-fund projects that are delivering new and practical solutions that benefit our city. It’s really exciting to see the great ideas coming from our community and local businesses.”

Cr Vicki Buck, who Chairs the Council’s Innovation and Sustainable Development Committee, says the fund has shown "how active innovation is in Christchurch”.

“It’s also been a brilliant way of supporting initiatives that will make it a bit easier to reach our climate change goals as a city,” Cr Buck says.

“Applications are now being received from lots of amazing Christchurch people.”

The Innovation and Sustainability Fund has given $50,000 to social enterprise Cultivate so they can help train vulnerable youth to grow fresh vegetables in the central city and to compost food scraps collected by bicycle from central city cafes.

The Little River Trap Library received $10,000 from the Fund. The library provides free traps for three months to target pests on Banks Peninsula.

Other projects granted funding include the Limitless Programme, which runs workshop to help young people channel their talents towards real-world problems and meaningful careers, and the LiteClub project which provides carbon reduction advice to sports clubs.

The Innovation and Sustainability Fund is open to community groups, schools and businesses. Applications can be made online.