SAFETY & THE ENVIRONMENT
The health of our environment and safety of the people living and working in it are our guiding principles.
RAW's suite of technologies are impressive alternatives to the status quo and inspired by natural wonders in the world around us. We are humbled by nature's ability to solve the riddles of surviving in a constantly changing landscape by using the many tools which nature has already provided.
A deeper understanding of nature has enabled the creation of bio-based chemicals that are powerful antidotes to the continued use of petrochemicals but which also carry an enviable ZERO hazard rating.
RAW's proprietary nano-bubbler uses atmospheric oxygen and other naturally occurring gases to remediate soils & water, accelerate plant and animal growth while also improving their health, amplify the power of bio-based chemicals and so much more.
Polymeric Ceramic membranes imitate nature's water purification cycle at an industrial scale using molecular manufacturing as the basis for separating all impurities from water.
These leading edge innovations are safe for the environment, are safe for humans and lessen our impact on the world around us.
"Our technologies emulate the same principles which nature has already perfected.
Like nature, our solutions are safe for humans and safe for the environment."
Larry Peters
President: RAW Biochem
The Benefits are Clear
Injuries add significant costs to every business with chemical use being one of the leading causes of injury and long term health issues. RAW's ZERO hazard rated, bio-based chemicals safely perform all the same tasks as conventional petrochemicals but will reduce accidents and injury related work-safe premiums.
All RAW technologies are designed to minimize environmental hazards. Within 28 days, 60-100% of our bio-based chemical ingredients are undetectable.
Our water technologies remove all impurities from contaminated fluids to create crystal clean water.
Issues surrounding public safety are of paramount concern to all public facing businesses and government. The many dangers can include severe allergies and reactions through to burns and respiratory ailments. RAW nano-technologies touch on and solve all public safety concerns.
RAW bio-based chemicals are non-reactive and will not scar or damage ferrous or non-ferrous metals, gaskets and seals which in turn reduces maintenance costs while extending equipment duty-cycles. Our water technologies have minimal components leading to safer operation and lessened maintenance costs.
Bio-inspiration vs Bio-utilization
The Chaos Theory has often been held up as a model of the impact of human interference in the environment. In its simplest form it states that a butterfly beating its wings in the jungles of Africa can create a hurricane halfway around the world.
But; if our goal is to "do no harm", mankind must look to nature and emulate or utilize this knowledge and the experiences which a millennia of evolution has already perfected. Animals, plants, and microbes are the consummate engineers. After billions of years of research and development, failures are fossils, and what surrounds us is the secret to survival. Nature has already solved many of the problems we are grappling with, we just have to listen and observe to discover their secrets.
Two of the most commonly used techniques in Industrial Biotechnology are Bio-Utilization & Bio- inspiration. As their names describe, the first technique is the use, or utilization, while the second technique is the remediation, or correction of something through the use of biological elements that are not functioning adequately.
An example of Bio-utilization comes from the paper-manufacturing industry where high-value products such as enzymes are used in bio-bleaching to reduce the chemical consumption of chlorine-based bleaching agents. These new bleaching agents are a new environmentally sound process that can significantly minimize the environmental impact from the pulp and paper industry.
Another example is the earliest known use of Pyrethrum flowers (Chrysanthemum’s) which were used as insecticides beginning in the early 1800's.
On the other hand, bio-inspiration is the use of life and nature as a source of ideas which will aid in problem solving. A classic example of this is the re-design of the Japanese bullet train. At more than 300 km/hr. the standard engine design caused a sonic boom which disturbed near by residents.
Modeling of the engine to mirror the shape of the Kingfisher's head and beak not only eliminated the sonic boom but the sleek aerodynamic shape also saved 10 - 15% of the fuel.
Within the very broad category of bio-inspiration, Bio-Inspired Design (BID) has been proposed as the generic term that encompasses all the different approaches of design which are inspired by life, nature and living organisms.
Inspiration in nature is not new, in the sciences, arts or design. From the early studies of Leonardo Da Vinci to the present, arts and design disciplines have had a long history of inspiration in nature. Complete design movements such as the arts and crafts, modernism and art nouveau movements of the early 20th century, as well as the organicism of the 1950’s, are examples of this.
Since the middle of the 20th century, many courses in engineering, architecture and design have used nature and biology as a source of ideas. Some of the most relevant cases in design education are the inclusion of bionics and bio-mechanics in many design courses in the 1970s and 80s, as exemplified in the now classic book, "Design for the Real World" (1971), by Victor Papanek, where he describes “biological prototypes in design”.
Bionics, Biomimetics and Biomimicry are three widely developed bio-inspired disciplines, which are usually not differentiated. Most authors agree mainly on their similarities, especially learning from nature with an innovative and technological focus.
However, the main difference of biomimicry with other BIDs is that one of its main goals is the conservation of life and nature, thus related to environmental sustainability.
Biomimicry has its origin in the Greek bios, (life), and mimesis, (imitation). Biomimicry proposes innovation inspired by nature. Rather than being utilized, nature becomes a source of ideas and innovative solutions for human problems and needs. As proposed by Janine Benyus, one of its main postulates is learning from nature, taking in account three basic pillars which can be summarized as:
1) nature as model,
2) nature as measure, and
3) nature as mentor.
Biomimicry is an approach to innovation that seeks sustainable solutions to human challenges by emulating nature’s time-tested patterns and strategies. The core idea is that nature has already solved many of the problems we are grappling with. Animals, plants, and microbes are the consummate engineers. After billions of years of research and development, failures are fossils, and what surrounds us is the secret to survival.
Leonardo da Vinci applied biomimicry to the study of birds in the hope of enabling human flight. He very closely observed the anatomy and flight of birds, and made numerous notes and sketches of his observations and countless sketches of proposed "flying machines". Although he was not successful with his own flying machine, his ideas lived on and were the source of inspiration for the Wright Brothers, who were also inspired by their observations of pigeons in flight. They finally did succeed in creating and flying the first airplane in 1903.
“You could look at nature as being like a catalogue of products, and all of those have benefited from a 3.8 billion-year research and development period. And given that level of investment, it makes sense to use it.” Michael Pawlyn.
Biomimicry Defined: Humans are clever, but without intending to, we have created massive sustainability problems for future generations. Fortunately, solutions to these global challenges are all around us.
Worker Safety is #1
Chemical burns, endocrine disruptors and a host of other issues follow the use of traditional chemicals.
RAW's bio-based nanotechnology formulations are SAFE and carry the enviable 0-0-0-0 WHMIS hazard rating. Bio-based formulations perform their functions while being mutagen and genotoxicity free. They will not endanger workers and are:
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Non-flammable
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Contain NO VOC's
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Non-toxic
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Non-comedogenic
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Non-reactive
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Non-hazardous
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Readily biodegradable
RAW products do not contain petroleum distillates, glycol ethers, caustics, ozone depleting agents, nonylphenols or endocrine disruptors.
The inevitable result will be:
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enhanced worker productivity
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greater worker retention
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lessened worker liability premiums,
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fewer incident reports
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reduced long-term health issues
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minimized worker PPE
Environmental Safety
RAW Biochem prides itself on offering technologies which are derived from nature and are SAFE for the environment.
RAW's bio-based chemical formulations are "readily biodegradable".
These formulations are derived from domestically grown ingredients. 97% of these ingredients are non-detect after 28 days when subjected to sunlight, water and microbial activity.
Accidental discharge or spills on land or in water do not require environmental remediation and its non-reactive status removes concerns of the creation of new and volatile compounds which can cause longer term effects to the environment.
Public Safety
With an increasingly aware and educated public, the issues surrounding chemical use are of paramount concern as expressed through the many social and public media streams and in personal interactions.
RAW's cutting edge ZERO hazard rated technologies are the antidote to increasingly stringent public and regulatory demands.
They offer opportunities for significant marketing and public awareness campaigns on the mitigation measures being implemented by your firm while concurrently raising industry recognition for these bio-sensitive additions to your corporate culture.
Equipment Safety
RAW prides itself on extending equipment duty cycles, lessening equipment maintenance costs and in reducing capex replacement budgets.
These claims are anchored on the exceedingly safe nature of these nano-technologies.
RAW's bio-based chemicals are SAFE and non-reactive. They will not damage or scar ferrous or non-ferrous metals, rubber, nylon, fiberglass or glass surfaces.
Active bio-based chemical ingredients range in size from 1 - 4 nano-meters. The micelle’s (active ingredients) small particle size, combined with it’s extremely high surface area to volume ratio enables it to penetrate complex carbon molecules and emulsify organic matter without mechanical processes or caustics.
These nano-sized active ingredients are able to penetrate even the most difficult to reach areas. This leaves equipment in like-new condition without sludge residue which can hurt bearings, make valves sticky or foster an accelerated re-adhesion of these same sludge residues.
This in turn reduces maintenance requirements and without the damage typical of mechanical or caustic chemicals, equipment life-cycles are extended.
