Mi Terro: From Milk-based Fabrics To Packaging Made From Beer Waste
I interviewed and wrote about Mi Terro, the company that makes fabrics from milk.
Thumbnail Image Courtesy: Couleur (Pixabay)
Back in 2018, when Robert Luo saw buckets of milk thrown away on his uncle’s farm in China, he wanted to find a solution to this diary waste problem. That is how Mi Terro – a brand that converts waste milk to fabrics – was created. It was not just an answer to the agricultural waste but also the fashion industry’s non-biodegradable waste. To give a clear picture of how much is wasted: according to the Global Academy of Agriculture and Food Security, “about 55m tonnes are lost before they even reach a store.” BBC Future reported that “globally the fashion industry is responsible for 10% of all greenhouse gas emissions.”
The reason behind the greenhouse gas emission is the industry’s use of non-biodegradable resources. With petroleum being one of them, Mi Terro is strongly against using the material. Even its primary goal is to “replace petroleum materials with protein-based materials made from food waste.” The start-up explained that the microplastics produced by the fibre can have harmful effects – including cancer and heart diseases – on our human body. Beyond that, these microplastics are impossible to get rid of once they enter the ocean. Prior to making fabrics out of milk, the brand made travel bags from ocean waste.
This environmentally-conscious brand is in an attempt to become even more eco-friendly. The marque is focused on replacing the plastic materials used in packaging. It is currently in progress of making the world’s very first compostable package that is made from beer waste.
Continue reading