TOMSK, Nov 11 – RIA Tomsk, Elena
Taylasheva. Tomsk chemists have finished laboratory tests of
polyethylene film, which completely decomposes in 4-5 years, adviser to t6he
Rector of Tomsk State University (TSU) Konstantin Belyakov told RIA Tomsk;
according to him, the task to scientists was set by the X5 Retail Group, now
there is a search for investors to create industrial technology.
"Representatives
of the X5 Retail Group came to Tomsk at the invitation of TSU in 2017. Among
the problems they voiced to scientists was the creation of environmentally friendly
polyethylene bags. They're ready to buy them in bulk. And I can say that the
team of the Engineering Chemical and Technological Center (ECTC) of TSU offered
an advanced, very effective solution as a result", – Belyakov said.
According to
him, a spin-off was created from ECTC under this project – a separate project
company "Greenbiotech" – and engineers were able to obtain the first
samples of biodegradable films after 2.5 years. Laboratory tests have shown
that the film decomposes 4-5 years to the gas condition, that is, completely,
which solves the acute problem with the pollution of the planet.
Quite serious
investments (about 3 million dollars) are needed to begin the development of
industrial technology on the basis of existing laboratory and manufactured
prototypes. Belyakov is now negotiating funding for the next stage of the
project with several venture funds.
© Павел Стефанский
However, it
turned out that Russian venture investors in mass do not believe that
scientists on the periphery, in Siberia can solve a problem that the whole
world has been fighting for decades and has not yet made much progress.
"Convincing
them otherwise, that is, turning the perception of the usual scheme of
technological transfer from West to East, is insanely difficult. But I hope there
will be a person, a team or a foundation that will throw away stereotypes, and
the wall of "disbelief" will fall", – Belyakov summed up.
X5 Retail
Group is one of the leading Russian product retail companies. Operates shops
under the brands Pyaterochka, supermarkets Perekrestok and hypermarkets
Karusel.