WEBVTT - Will you use insect repellent made from durian husks? | EP 5

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<v Speaker 1>This is a C. N. A podcast.

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<v Speaker 1>Hi, welcome back to the climate conversations with me julie.

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<v Speaker 1>You you may have heard how plastic waste is being

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<v Speaker 1>recycled into works of art or perhaps made into usable

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<v Speaker 1>homeware using waste to create consumer products is not new

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<v Speaker 1>and in fact, companies have been getting in on the

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<v Speaker 1>action for some time now. Nike for instance, as a

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<v Speaker 1>range of shoes made completely out of scrap material, but

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<v Speaker 1>California based green toys makes all of its toys out

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<v Speaker 1>of recycled plastic

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<v Speaker 1>as more people become aware of and begin to use

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<v Speaker 1>more sustainable products. The business of turning trash into treasure

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<v Speaker 1>is only set to grow. Today. I'm speaking to two

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<v Speaker 1>women who run a startup that turns cashew waste. Yes,

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<v Speaker 1>Cashew actually produce waste into nontoxic disinfectants.

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<v Speaker 1>Any innovations is where did Egan Debbie Krishna work on

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<v Speaker 1>cracking challenges that bother them? Like how to reduce toxic

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<v Speaker 1>chemicals used in consumer products.

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<v Speaker 1>Congratulations!

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<v Speaker 1>Because we had some tough competition.

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<v Speaker 1>This all women group was also the winner of CNN's

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<v Speaker 1>Green Plant Hackathon, which took place in April this year.

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<v Speaker 1>That was how excited they were at their win. Netting

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<v Speaker 1>them the top prize of $10,000. So who are these

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<v Speaker 1>young entrepreneurs that started this business in the middle of

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<v Speaker 1>a pandemic? What motivates them

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<v Speaker 1>and can a sustainable nontoxic product make money in the

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<v Speaker 1>marketplace so much to talk about De de Debbie, Welcome

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<v Speaker 1>to Climate conversations and congratulations on winning the contest. Great

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<v Speaker 1>to have you your boat. Hi, Hello,

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<v Speaker 1>didi, I want to start with you first for listeners

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<v Speaker 1>who may not have caught the Hackathon, could you start

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<v Speaker 1>off by sharing with us a bit about your winning

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<v Speaker 1>sustainability solution? Why focus on addressing food waste? So for

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<v Speaker 1>this green plant hackathon, we were trying to tackle pest

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<v Speaker 1>control problems in Singapore. Using the all natural approach

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<v Speaker 1>as we know that chemical passage sites tends to leave

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<v Speaker 1>residues and they are not food safe or child friendly.

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<v Speaker 1>So with these presence of harmful pesticides, residues in food

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<v Speaker 1>that has caused a huge concerns in the consumers. So

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<v Speaker 1>we're trying to use food waste and design an all

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<v Speaker 1>natural bug repellent that could actually be safe on baby

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<v Speaker 1>skin

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<v Speaker 1>As well and also used in food processing areas. So

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<v Speaker 1>the whole idea was trying to turn food waste and

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<v Speaker 1>this time we decided to choose to be in, wow.

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<v Speaker 1>But let's start with cashew nuts here. That you had

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<v Speaker 1>a moment of inspiration while having drinks and nibbling on

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<v Speaker 1>some nuts one day, could you tell us about that

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<v Speaker 1>started in 2000 and

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<v Speaker 1>20 during the pandemic? We're just locked down in the

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<v Speaker 1>home with my aunt and we were like, hey, everyone's

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<v Speaker 1>using alcohol disinfectant and it's so toxic for the skin

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<v Speaker 1>and I have two kids that I actually have really

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<v Speaker 1>bad Exuma, especially my baby girl. So I think once

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<v Speaker 1>they're in the market that really can replace chemical disinfectant

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<v Speaker 1>or chemical hand sanitizer

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<v Speaker 1>And we were eating nuts. And then one of my

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<v Speaker 1>good friends was like hey and maybe we can use

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<v Speaker 1>these nuts and turn them into something. So we kind

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<v Speaker 1>of just tested a whole range of things. We tried

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<v Speaker 1>managing pills to grape seeds, a whole range of whatever

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<v Speaker 1>ways that we could find. And

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<v Speaker 1>We not only use casual waste but also soybean waste

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<v Speaker 1>and also crab shell extracts to make into all natural

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<v Speaker 1>antimicrobial compound that's called VK nine. So let's go back

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<v Speaker 1>to jury. And I must admit I mean I'm not

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<v Speaker 1>a huge fan but Debbie, how does it work? I

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<v Speaker 1>mean who came up with that idea of?

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<v Speaker 1>We were just thinking about coming up with some sustainable

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<v Speaker 1>ideas and then durian is a fruit that singaporeans love

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<v Speaker 1>very much and then lots of waste also gets piled up.

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<v Speaker 1>So when we were researching we found that it has

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<v Speaker 1>lots of politics,

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<v Speaker 1>kennels and flavonoids inside which we could like use for

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<v Speaker 1>best repellent properties. So we tried a plan to extract

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<v Speaker 1>it out and try it out at the hackathon. Right

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<v Speaker 1>so didi you said they're natural they're safe

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<v Speaker 1>and even edible. That's what I hear. I mean can

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<v Speaker 1>it still kill viruses as well as normal disinfectants. We

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<v Speaker 1>have actually been certified by Sgs that it's actually food

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<v Speaker 1>context safe and 100% edible. Our VK 99 technology has

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<v Speaker 1>been proved

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<v Speaker 1>to inactivate a whole range of bacteria including the SARS

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<v Speaker 1>cov two virus not only instantly but continuously for 100

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<v Speaker 1>and 80 days. So it has a self sanitizing property

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<v Speaker 1>meaning that you know when you use a normal disinfectant

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<v Speaker 1>in the market,

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<v Speaker 1>when you spray within 30 seconds there is no more effect.

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<v Speaker 1>We were trying to create something that's more sustainable because

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<v Speaker 1>we don't want to be cleaning every day with the

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<v Speaker 1>carbon footprint. Right? So we decided to try to create

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<v Speaker 1>a compound that has self sanitizing property so it will

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<v Speaker 1>self clean itself continuously even with just

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<v Speaker 1>One spray. Oh that's fascinating. So any idea how much

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<v Speaker 1>not waste you've up cycled in the past two years

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<v Speaker 1>since you develop these products we have up cycled up

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<v Speaker 1>to two tons of Nut ways and we are looking

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<v Speaker 1>to vala rise up to 15 tons of food waste

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<v Speaker 1>in general this year that's our mission of our company.

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<v Speaker 1>And I noticed that both of you have science background.

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<v Speaker 1>I mean you're both science heavyweights. D d you studied

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<v Speaker 1>biomedical science and Debbie, you are the post graduate student

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<v Speaker 1>in bio technology which means you could have gone into

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<v Speaker 1>any established field. You know made some good money while

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<v Speaker 1>at it. And in fact dede You left your job

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<v Speaker 1>as a managing director of the textile mill in Malaysia.

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<v Speaker 1>What galvanized you to venture off and found any innovations

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<v Speaker 1>I think in my past experience in the dying meals

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<v Speaker 1>there are so much waste that goes into the rivers.

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<v Speaker 1>And I was thinking what can we do play a

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<v Speaker 1>little part to make the planet a little bit more

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<v Speaker 1>sustainable and I decided to try to turn food waste

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<v Speaker 1>into something that's useful.

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<v Speaker 1>And Debbie, what about you? Why sustainability? Was there a

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<v Speaker 1>moment or event that really influenced you?

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<v Speaker 1>My master's degree? I did a project where utilized the

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<v Speaker 1>phytochemicals in the plant to create some bacteria inhibiting compounds.

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<v Speaker 1>So it has always been vaccinating to exploit the natural

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<v Speaker 1>agents in the plants and in the nature that we

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<v Speaker 1>can always exploit and then utilize to our advantage. So

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<v Speaker 1>I've always

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<v Speaker 1>found a sense of fulfillment in doing that. And then

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<v Speaker 1>while at enemy we utilize cashier waste and durian waste

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<v Speaker 1>and extract all the phytochemicals in them and utilize it

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<v Speaker 1>for a good purpose. So it's very interesting to me

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<v Speaker 1>to research about that and then make it into a

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<v Speaker 1>valuable product like a match made in heaven.

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<v Speaker 2>Hi, my name is Sarah Khaldi and I'm the host

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<v Speaker 2>of a new podcast called Money talks Yes, we will

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<v Speaker 2>be talking about money, but more than that, we'll also

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<v Speaker 2>be talking about life, personal choices, lucky breaks and how

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<v Speaker 2>money is the thread running through it all. So look

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<v Speaker 2>out for our episodes wherever you get your podcasts.

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<v Speaker 1>Dee Dee. What's quite remarkable is that your company began

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<v Speaker 1>life in March 2020. This is when COVID-19 was already

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<v Speaker 1>in Singapore would be heading towards a circuit breaker. I

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<v Speaker 1>mean why did you and your partners choose to start

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<v Speaker 1>a new business when the world was in a bit

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<v Speaker 1>of a tailspin, we, we thought it's, I don't know

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<v Speaker 1>or never and it's a lockdown. I won't be able

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<v Speaker 1>to travel to Malaysia anymore. So I decided why not

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<v Speaker 1>try a new journey? And I've always been passionate about R&amp;D.

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<v Speaker 1>In my past experience. Also, I've been always innovation and

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<v Speaker 1>trying to make new things. So I thought, why not

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<v Speaker 1>just embark a new journey since there was a Covid

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<v Speaker 1>and with the products that we are envisioned at that

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<v Speaker 1>point of time, I would say envision

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<v Speaker 1>we want to make something happen and why not just

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<v Speaker 1>try during the Covid? I guess in a way, pandemic

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<v Speaker 1>has created some inspiration and for your products and Debbie,

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<v Speaker 1>you've been with the company since its inception. I'm sure

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<v Speaker 1>building a startup in the midst of the pandemic must

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<v Speaker 1>have been quite hard.

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<v Speaker 1>Looking back over the last two years, what would you

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<v Speaker 1>find most challenging? Initially we started off in a very

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<v Speaker 1>small lab, we had to like start off from scratch

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<v Speaker 1>and then right now we are about to start off

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<v Speaker 1>a new R and D lab and we have a

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<v Speaker 1>lot of equipments. So looking back now, I feel very proud,

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<v Speaker 1>like

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<v Speaker 1>we've come a long way. How about you any challenges?

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<v Speaker 1>I think there are many, many challenges. One of the

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<v Speaker 1>biggest challenge I think we face as a team was,

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<v Speaker 1>you know, food waste is not a nice color, right?

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<v Speaker 1>So with cashew and soybean the color that when we

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<v Speaker 1>synergistically make into a compound, it's a really dark brown.

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<v Speaker 1>Would you lose a black, almost black hand sanitizer? Um

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<v Speaker 1>If you made it

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<v Speaker 1>so hard work has actually paid off. So when we

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<v Speaker 1>look at the state of sustainability in Singapore and globally

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<v Speaker 1>up cycling, let's talk about that is a relatively recent term, right?

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<v Speaker 1>And it's been fascinating to see a number of economically

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<v Speaker 1>viable up cycle and sustainable products currently on the market.

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<v Speaker 1>I know your products, the masks and C. Two plus

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<v Speaker 1>disinfectant are currently sold online and offline.

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<v Speaker 1>So d are you making money? Does it make business sense?

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<v Speaker 1>Um Yeah, I think so, because we have to price

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<v Speaker 1>it right. I think with sustainability products you have to

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<v Speaker 1>make sure that it's not overly priced for consumers to

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<v Speaker 1>make that switch. So for dimas it's a medical grade

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<v Speaker 1>and 95 mask that's reusable 30 times. So marketing it

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<v Speaker 1>in 1990

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<v Speaker 1>so the price is affordable for people and the comfort,

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<v Speaker 1>I think the comfort and the extent of the protection

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<v Speaker 1>that you will give because in 2020 everyone was only

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<v Speaker 1>wearing surgical masks and n 95 months were actually overly

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<v Speaker 1>priced one and 95 months was going like $6 and

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<v Speaker 1>you're only about to use it once. So we price

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<v Speaker 1>something that is sustainable and there's a long term of

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<v Speaker 1>use

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<v Speaker 1>and there's extra protection. So when you wear n 95

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<v Speaker 1>months there's only the filtration protection, right? But we? Ve

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<v Speaker 1>must we have the additional antiviral layer that will inactivate

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<v Speaker 1>the bacteria and virus on top of filtering the virus.

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<v Speaker 1>So it gives extra protection. I wonder are there enough

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<v Speaker 1>consumers demands out there to make up for the cost

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<v Speaker 1>and efforts

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<v Speaker 1>you've put in in developing these products? Um I think

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<v Speaker 1>in the first year we paid a lot for R.

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<v Speaker 1>And D. And that's something that it will have to

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<v Speaker 1>recuperate over time. But with our new products I think

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<v Speaker 1>it makes business sense. And Debbie, what do you think

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<v Speaker 1>is the incentive for consumers to turn to sustainable options

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<v Speaker 1>like this?

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<v Speaker 1>In the post pandemic era, people would definitely look for

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<v Speaker 1>solutions that are sustainable because even the United Nations is

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<v Speaker 1>like enlightening people to go for sustainable products. Even Singapore

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<v Speaker 1>is like pushing all the companies to trace the carbon

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<v Speaker 1>food brains. So I think as a whole, the world

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<v Speaker 1>is moving towards purchasing more sustainable products and

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<v Speaker 1>going for sustainable options variable possible and any is a

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<v Speaker 1>med tech company, understand how much do you think science

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<v Speaker 1>and technology will play coming up with solutions for the future,

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<v Speaker 1>not just to make these eco friendly and sustainable products

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<v Speaker 1>but also in a larger climate change challenges. I think

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<v Speaker 1>science in the R. And D. Is a key

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<v Speaker 1>component to play in making our planet more sustainable. There

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<v Speaker 1>are so many alternative fuels that are in the making

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<v Speaker 1>now than just cold. So I think it definitely will

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<v Speaker 1>play a big part. So all of you should just

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<v Speaker 1>go and study more science and we can make a

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<v Speaker 1>planet more sustainable place.

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah, I mean bio plastics, bio fuels, all of them

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<v Speaker 1>are like coming up and everyone is looking forward to

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<v Speaker 1>using them. R and D. It's like the key component

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<v Speaker 1>of taking the world to the next level. You two

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<v Speaker 1>are still very, very young um unlike me, but you know,

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<v Speaker 1>you have kids, do you think younger people, the next generation,

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<v Speaker 1>would they be interested in this space?

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<v Speaker 1>What young generation people are looking for now is also

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<v Speaker 1>work life balance and more flexibility at work. And if

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<v Speaker 1>the sector can grow and give what this generation of

0:13:31.490 --> 0:13:36.410
<v Speaker 1>people needs and feel their passion into having their ideas hurt.

0:13:36.420 --> 0:13:39.190
<v Speaker 1>That will really help them to be interested in science

0:13:39.190 --> 0:13:42.490
<v Speaker 1>as well. I think the company culture is also important.

0:13:42.500 --> 0:13:44.580
<v Speaker 1>So what kind of company culture do you have?

0:13:44.600 --> 0:13:46.980
<v Speaker 1>Maybe you can share with us? We are very flexible

0:13:46.980 --> 0:13:48.820
<v Speaker 1>in our company. We don't have like a 9 to

0:13:48.820 --> 0:13:51.940
<v Speaker 1>6 kind of working arrangement. Everyone can work from home

0:13:51.950 --> 0:13:54.459
<v Speaker 1>from the office. I think the key is we have

0:13:54.460 --> 0:13:56.689
<v Speaker 1>a lot of interns, it's a small startup. We don't

0:13:56.690 --> 0:13:59.000
<v Speaker 1>have many food timers but we have a huge range

0:13:59.000 --> 0:14:01.840
<v Speaker 1>of interns from Polly's to universities and I think they

0:14:01.840 --> 0:14:04.870
<v Speaker 1>have amazing ideas if you're ready to hear them out

0:14:04.880 --> 0:14:08.640
<v Speaker 1>and give them tasks and let their imagination go well.

0:14:08.640 --> 0:14:10.120
<v Speaker 1>I think they can give you

0:14:10.670 --> 0:14:13.950
<v Speaker 1>a lot more than what you expect looking ahead. Are

0:14:13.950 --> 0:14:17.540
<v Speaker 1>you taking aim at any other forms of organic waste

0:14:17.550 --> 0:14:21.460
<v Speaker 1>that we might be familiar with when we up cycle something,

0:14:21.470 --> 0:14:23.910
<v Speaker 1>it's not about just taking a certain part of it,

0:14:23.920 --> 0:14:27.940
<v Speaker 1>but we want to upset the entire durian husk. So

0:14:27.955 --> 0:14:30.845
<v Speaker 1>Uh I will say up to almost 90% of it.

0:14:30.845 --> 0:14:33.175
<v Speaker 1>So we will not just be using part of it

0:14:33.175 --> 0:14:36.975
<v Speaker 1>for the insect repellent. We will extract sellers from the

0:14:36.975 --> 0:14:40.325
<v Speaker 1>jury in hearts and make them into sustainable wipes in

0:14:40.325 --> 0:14:43.285
<v Speaker 1>the market at the moment, most of the sustainable whites

0:14:43.285 --> 0:14:47.045
<v Speaker 1>are made from bamboo. So we are trying to come

0:14:47.045 --> 0:14:53.265
<v Speaker 1>up with a durian based wipes. So it's 100% biodegradable. No, no, no,

0:14:53.275 --> 0:14:54.835
<v Speaker 1>definitely not.

0:14:55.280 --> 0:14:58.890
<v Speaker 1>It'll be processed because I see so much food waste

0:14:58.900 --> 0:15:02.160
<v Speaker 1>around us all the time. I wonder if this could

0:15:02.160 --> 0:15:06.010
<v Speaker 1>be the new frontier when it comes to developing new

0:15:06.010 --> 0:15:09.830
<v Speaker 1>and innovative solution for a greener world. What do you think? Davey.

0:15:10.000 --> 0:15:15.110
<v Speaker 1>Yeah, definitely. Yes, because even for the durian project we

0:15:15.110 --> 0:15:19.640
<v Speaker 1>have a plan to install durian collection stations around Singapore.

0:15:19.650 --> 0:15:22.660
<v Speaker 1>So that will be like a practical solution so people

0:15:22.660 --> 0:15:25.460
<v Speaker 1>can just throw away the durian waste and then we'll

0:15:25.470 --> 0:15:26.910
<v Speaker 1>utilize that to

0:15:26.920 --> 0:15:32.050
<v Speaker 1>make the whites. So I think such practical solutions should

0:15:32.060 --> 0:15:35.770
<v Speaker 1>come into existence more and I'm sure there are listeners

0:15:35.770 --> 0:15:39.830
<v Speaker 1>out there and maybe in the future entrepreneurs in this space,

0:15:39.840 --> 0:15:43.450
<v Speaker 1>any advice, I know you guys are just started out,

0:15:43.450 --> 0:15:45.150
<v Speaker 1>but any tips.

0:15:45.950 --> 0:15:49.150
<v Speaker 1>I think the key is to really focus on what

0:15:49.160 --> 0:15:51.960
<v Speaker 1>is the mission and vision that you built the company

0:15:51.970 --> 0:15:55.970
<v Speaker 1>and do not deviate it because of any other reasons.

0:15:55.980 --> 0:15:59.130
<v Speaker 1>The journey will be tough, but you always have to

0:15:59.140 --> 0:16:04.430
<v Speaker 1>stay motivated and remember what was the mission that you wanted?

0:16:04.440 --> 0:16:05.380
<v Speaker 1>What kept your motive?

0:16:05.760 --> 0:16:08.830
<v Speaker 1>I'm sure there are days, you just want to forget it.

0:16:08.840 --> 0:16:12.690
<v Speaker 1>Going back to Malaysia. I think what keeps me motivated

0:16:12.690 --> 0:16:15.850
<v Speaker 1>is my kids, I have two kids actually the company's

0:16:15.860 --> 0:16:19.330
<v Speaker 1>name after the kids. So Netanyahu and Emma and is

0:16:19.330 --> 0:16:22.720
<v Speaker 1>turning 10 and Emma is 25, so I think my

0:16:22.720 --> 0:16:24.830
<v Speaker 1>kids are my motivation to make

0:16:25.160 --> 0:16:27.640
<v Speaker 1>so we're a little bit more sustainable so that they

0:16:27.640 --> 0:16:31.380
<v Speaker 1>get a better life when I'm not here. And yeah,

0:16:31.380 --> 0:16:34.170
<v Speaker 1>I think it's the fulfillment at the end of the

0:16:34.170 --> 0:16:37.710
<v Speaker 1>day that you're doing something useful for people around as

0:16:37.710 --> 0:16:42.340
<v Speaker 1>well as for the world. Yeah, that sense of fulfillment.

0:16:42.350 --> 0:16:44.800
<v Speaker 1>So if you could change one thing about the state

0:16:44.800 --> 0:16:46.980
<v Speaker 1>of the world today and then especially when it comes

0:16:46.980 --> 0:16:50.520
<v Speaker 1>to sustainable solutions, what would it be and why

0:16:52.080 --> 0:16:54.869
<v Speaker 1>I think it's the amount of plastics that we really

0:16:54.870 --> 0:16:57.510
<v Speaker 1>use and really learn how to eat less and not

0:16:57.520 --> 0:17:02.530
<v Speaker 1>over order. We actually have 744 million of food waste

0:17:02.540 --> 0:17:06.730
<v Speaker 1>thrown away each year in Singapore. And I think that's

0:17:06.730 --> 0:17:09.380
<v Speaker 1>a huge amount. If everyone can play a small little

0:17:09.380 --> 0:17:12.080
<v Speaker 1>part to just order a little bit less, bring your

0:17:12.080 --> 0:17:16.030
<v Speaker 1>own takeaway box to the Hawkins Center. I think that

0:17:16.030 --> 0:17:17.040
<v Speaker 1>will really help

0:17:17.740 --> 0:17:22.220
<v Speaker 1>people should now focus more on minimalism, like not by

0:17:22.230 --> 0:17:25.609
<v Speaker 1>all the things and then pile them up, even clothes.

0:17:25.619 --> 0:17:27.859
<v Speaker 1>It's the need of the art that we all focus

0:17:27.859 --> 0:17:33.390
<v Speaker 1>on buying what's necessary and not like wasting things. Great

0:17:33.390 --> 0:17:35.920
<v Speaker 1>message to end on. And one thing I learned today

0:17:35.920 --> 0:17:39.340
<v Speaker 1>is never judge a food by its cover.

0:17:40.330 --> 0:17:43.100
<v Speaker 1>Thank you very much, ladies for coming in today and

0:17:43.100 --> 0:17:45.669
<v Speaker 1>best of luck and a great work you do. Thank you.

0:17:45.680 --> 0:17:49.440
<v Speaker 1>Thank you. Thanks to my guests d d gone and

0:17:49.450 --> 0:17:53.399
<v Speaker 1>Debbie Krishna of any any innovations and thanks to all

0:17:53.400 --> 0:17:55.840
<v Speaker 1>of you for tuning in. We hope you enjoyed this

0:17:55.840 --> 0:18:00.149
<v Speaker 1>episode and do remember to subscribe and like this podcast. So,

0:18:00.150 --> 0:18:02.189
<v Speaker 1>you know, when a new episode drops,

0:18:02.750 --> 0:18:05.939
<v Speaker 1>you can find CNN's climate and sustainability coverage online at

0:18:05.940 --> 0:18:10.030
<v Speaker 1>CNN dot asia. The team behind this podcast is opening

0:18:10.040 --> 0:18:14.570
<v Speaker 1>Danieli and Christina robert and I'm julie you signing off