Latest news with #LeilaMashouf
Euronews
23-06-2025
- Science
- Euronews
Sustainable technology innovations awarded at Young Inventors Prize
Ten young inventors have been awarded for developing technologies that advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, with top honours awarded for innovations in rare earth recycling, food preservation, and carbon capture. At a ceremony held in Reykjavík, Iceland, the European Patent Office (EPO) announced the winners of the 2025 Young Inventors Prize special prizes. This year's selected inventors, called 'Tomorrow Shapers,' were selected from more than 450 international applicants, all of whom were aged 30 and under. While ten inventors or teams received recognition from the EPO for their technologies, three received special awards — World Builders, Community Healers, and Nature Guardians — and one was selected as the People's Choice through an online public vote. Euronews spoke to the winners of the special prizes about their inventions. Capturing carbon emissions and redefining fashion The Nature Guardians prize went to US scientists and twin sisters Neeka and Leila Mashouf, whose invention converts carbon dioxide into cellulose-based fibres — offering a sustainable alternative to conventional textiles. The textile industry is responsible for 8% of CO2 emissions worldwide. Their company, Rubi, uses a proprietary enzymatic process that mimics the natural way trees absorb CO2 but without the land or water demands of harvesting forests or growing cotton. "A tree breathes CO2. It starts as a seed and is able to use this carbon to grow its trunk, branches and leaves. We essentially mimic this process, taking carbon and making these essential materials — but without the need to cut down trees," Neeka Mashouf told Euronews. Biodegradable sachet to combat food waste The Community Healers award went to Ugandan entrepreneurs Sandra Namboozo and Samuel Muyita, who developed a biodegradable sachet that extends the shelf life of fruit. Food waste is responsible for 10% of CO2 emissions, according to the FAO. Drawing from their backgrounds in farming communities, the two developed a sachet made from plant-based compounds that slows the ripening of fruit, extending shelf life by up to 30 days. "Karpolax is essentially a sachet that we place in fruit crates during storage or delivery. It releases an active substance that inhibits the phospholipase D enzyme responsible for the senescence or deterioration of fruit membranes," Namboozo told Euronews. Recycling rare earths Marie Perrin, a French-US chemist, won the World Builders prize for developing a process for recycling the rare earths found in electronic waste. Rare earths are a family of 17 elements on the periodic table, such as neodymium and europium, which are used to build our telephones and computers, as well as wind turbines and electric cars. China has achieved a virtual monopoly in the exploitation and production of rare earths. Perrin's innovation, a novel process to recover the rare earth element europium from discarded fluorescent lamps, eliminates the environmental damage typically caused by traditional mining. "Their production through mining poses major geopolitical and environmental problems. So recycling is something of a magic bullet, both in terms of geopolitics and environmental impact", Perrin told Euronews. Smart food label The People's Choice prize went to a team of Spanish researchers — Pilar Granado, Pablo Sosa Domínguez and Luis Chimeno The trio developed a biodegradable label to place on food that changes colour when it comes into contact with bacteria. It can be used to indicate in real time whether a food item has expired, thereby preventing food poisoning and wastage. Their innovation is already on the market and could help reduce Europe's staggering 59 million tonnes of food waste annually. Chimeno described the win as "a recognition of our path," noting that it affirmed the team's belief in the power of everyday solutions.
Yahoo
19-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
European Patent Office (EPO): Neeka and Leila Mashouf win the Nature Guardians prize at the Young Inventors Prize 2025 for turning CO₂ into essential materials
28-year-old American scientists recognised for converting industrial CO₂ emissions into biodegradable cellulose Their innovation offers a scalable, low-carbon alternative to textile production The European Patent Office is awarding them EUR 20 000 for advancing sustainable material manufacturing MUNICH and REYKJAVÍK, Iceland, June 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- During a ceremony held today in Iceland, the European Patent Office (EPO) awarded the twin American sisters Neeka and Leila Mashouf (28) the Nature Guardians prize for their invention, developed through their company Rubi Laboratories. Their breakthrough innovation mimics the way trees absorb carbon dioxide using enzymes to convert industrial CO₂ emissions into biodegradable cellulose that can be spun into sustainable textiles and other products. The Nature Guardians prize recognises initiatives dedicated to protecting ecosystems and biodiversity, addressing climate change, ocean health and wildlife conservation. Their work helps prevent environmental damage and restore natural balance. As this year's recipients of the Nature Guardians Prize, the Mashouf sisters received in total EUR 20 000 (EUR 5 000 awarded to each Tomorrow Shaper and an additional EUR 15 000 in recognition of this special prize). "Additional recognition from the European Patent Office propels Rubi's mission forward, as we pioneer the next era of energy-efficient manufacturing by transforming carbon into essential materials," said Neeka Mashouf, co-founder and CEO at Rubi. "A better world, where manufacturing exists in harmony with the planet, continues to serve as our North Star as we reach new milestones and make strides in commercializing our technology." The American inventors were selected by an independent jury as one of the ten winners of the Young Inventors Prize 2025, chosen from over 450 candidates worldwide. This prize celebrates innovators aged 30 and under, known as Tomorrow Shapers. From this group, three were awarded special prizes: World Builders, awarded to the French-American Marie Perrin, for promoting sustainable access to essential resources like water, energy and sustainable infrastructure; Community Healers, awarded to the Ugandan team of Sandra Namboozo and Samuel Muyita for developing solutions for food security, education, healthcare and fair working conditions; Nature Guardians, awarded to the American team. Reducing emissions through textile innovation The global textile industry is one of the most environmentally damaging supply chains, contributing up to 8% of global CO₂ emissions, according to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). In response to the sector's high environmental cost, the Mashoufs developed a novel carbon conversion process that avoids the energy demands and sugar-based inputs typical of many existing technologies. Operating outside living cells in a controlled reactor, their system uses enzymes to turn captured CO₂ into cellulose pulp – the basis for biodegradable fibres. The sisters claim this method consumes ten times less energy than thermochemical alternatives and reintegrates carbon into the natural cycle. "It took countless trials, errors, and optimisations to make it all work, from producing enzymes that had never been made before to testing them in conditions no one had ever explored," said Neeka. Shaped by science, inspired by nature Neeka and Leila Mashouf were driven by a desire to tackle the environmental impact of the fashion industry. In 2021, they founded Rubi Laboratories to turn industrial CO₂ emissions into textiles using a nature-inspired enzymatic process. The company is now focused on scaling the technology and expanding its applications, with CO₂-derived cellulose already being piloted by Walmart, Patagonia and H&M. "Our focus is now on engineering and execution. It's exciting to be at the point where we can concentrate on scaling the system and bringing everything to the next level," said Neeka. Their team now includes 17 scientists and engineers specialising in enzymology, chemical engineering and carbon capture. "These skills hadn't really been combined before. It's an ongoing challenge to find the right people, which is why we always search globally—because this work requires something truly unique," she added. The Young Inventors Prize celebrates worldwide innovators 30 and under using technology to address global challenges posed by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). By turning waste carbon into a valuable resource, the Mashouf sisters are directly contributing to UN SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities & Communities), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption & Production), and SDG 13 (Climate Action). The winners of the 2025 edition were announced today during a ceremony livestreamed from Iceland. Find more information about the invention's impact, the technology and the inventor's story here. About the Young Inventors Prize Aimed at individuals 30 and under, the Young Inventors Prize showcases the transformative power of youth-driven solutions and recognises the remarkable young people paving the way to a more sustainable future. Established in 2022, trophies were first handed out during the European Inventor Award ceremony. As of 2025, the Prize has moved up a gear with its own dedicated event, held separately from the Award. Among the 10 Tomorrow Shapers selected for each edition, three receive special prizes: World Builders, Community Healers, and Nature Guardians. In addition, a People's Choice winner is selected through an online public vote. Each Tomorrow Shaper receives EUR 5 000, while the three special prize winners are awarded an additional EUR 15 000. The People's Choice winner also receives an extra EUR 5 000. Read more on the Young Inventors Prize eligibility and selection criteria. About the EPO With 6,300 staff members, the European Patent Office (EPO) is one of the largest public service institutions in Europe. Headquartered in Munich with offices in Berlin, Brussels, The Hague and Vienna, the EPO was founded with the aim of strengthening co-operation on patents in Europe. Through the EPO's centralised patent granting procedure, inventors are able to obtain high-quality patent protection in up to 46 countries, covering a market of some 700 million people. The EPO is also the world's leading authority in patent information and patent searching. *Important noteB-roll materials of the inventors/invention herePicture materials of the inventors/invention here Additional videos and photos from the ceremony will be available shortlyFull ceremony video available upon request View original content: SOURCE European Patent Office (EPO) Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
