Kiverdi, Inc., a
privately held company that makes sustainable oils and oil-derived chemicals
converted from carbon-rich waste, announced today that its Carbon
EngineeringTM platform won the coveted 2012 Edison Award in Energy
and Sustainability.
Kiverdi has developed a biochemical process for the capture and
transformation of waste carbon into sustainable oils and advanced chemicals
without requiring sourcing and storing repurposed food staples such as sugar,
corn, palm, or soy. With Kiverdi's Carbon EngineeringTM platform,
proprietary microbes are able to transform carbon from industrial flue gases or
syngas from manufacturing waste, wood waste, or landfills into advanced
chemicals. The chemicals produced can serve as a sustainable alternative to the
petrochemicals and oleochemicals that are used to manufacture a wide range of
industrial and consumer products, ranging from plastics and detergents to fuels
and fuel additives.
Kiverdi is addressing the growing demand for cost-competitive, sustainably
sourced products that have a low-carbon footprint and that do not compete with
food. Approximately 50% of consumer products, for example, are currently
produced with palm oil and palm kernel oil. Kiverdi's biochemical process is
able to produce oils that can serve as direct replacements for these and other
oils without risks to rainforests or food supplies.
Edison Award nominees were judged by a panel of more than 3,000 leading
business executives including leaders in the fields of product development,
design, engineering, science and medicine. The nominees were judged on a set of
evaluation criteria built around the following innovation metrics: Concept,
Value, Impact and Delivery. Kiverdi was awarded a bronze Edison Award in the
category of Energy and Sustainability.
"We are thrilled to have our innovative Carbon EngineeringTM
platform recognized by the Edison Awards," said Kiverdi CEO Lisa Dyson, Ph.D.
"We very much share their emphasis on the value, impact and delivery of
innovation for the benefit of industry, communities, and the planet."
The company also announced that Dr. Dyson will deliver the company
presentation on Tuesday, May 1 at 2:30 p.m. (EDT) as part of the Cleantech
Investor Sessions at the BIO 9th Annual World Congress on Industrial
Biotechnology and Bioprocessing in Orlando, Florida April 29-May 2 at the
Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center.