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This super-white coating was inspired by a beetle’s scales

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Why This Matters

This innovative super-white coating, inspired by beetle scales and made from sustainable cellulose, offers a safer and eco-friendly alternative to traditional titanium dioxide. Its development is significant for the tech and manufacturing industries seeking healthier, environmentally conscious materials. As companies like Ikea adopt this technology, it could reshape standards for safe, sustainable whiteness in products worldwide.

Key Takeaways

Made from cellulose, the sustainable material is an alternative to titanium dioxide. Ikea is already experimenting with it. For decades, titanium dioxide has been used to make products bright white, from paint to powdered donuts. It’s effective, cheap, and hard to replace. But after the European Union (EU) banned it as a food additive in 2022 over potential health risks, companies have been searching for better alternatives.