Packing peanuts from sunflower stem pith, biobased packaging tape, wheat-based ‘turtle straws’, bioluminescent glow sticks, and more: The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the week of January 9th

#4 Canadian entrepreneur developing bioluminescent glow sticks

In Canada, a microbiology graduate is set to launch a Kickstarter campaign to commercialize natural glow sticks. Paige Whitehead, a resident of Comox Valley, tells MyComexValley.com her Nyoka Light Wands use natural enzymes that are biodegradable and non-toxic. “Working with enzymes you can create reactions that are way more energy-efficient and eco-friendly, and you end up without waste. This is just one aspect of that whole field of enzyme-based biotechnologies,” she says, adding that Nyoka means “transformation, healing and rebirth.”

Nyoka Light Wands combine her Whitehead’s childhood, educational background and hobbies.

“I saw bioluminescence for the first time when I was 14 off the coast of Vancouver Island and its always been something I’ve been super interested in. I went to the University of Victoria for microbiology and I got really into Biotech. I love music festivals and I’m a huge environmentalist so together with all of my interests converged to developing this project,” she adds. About 100 glow sticks will be available by the end of the month.
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