In Juneau, Alaska, a company called Tidal Vision offers new technologies to transform ocean byproducts into high-quality, durable aquatic leathers and performance textiles, promoting sustainability and reducing waste.
“Two billion pounds of seafood byproducts are thrown away each year in Alaska,” Tidal Vision founder and CEO, Craig Kasberg said. “By developing new technologies to upcycle these byproducts, Tidal Vision is looking to add value to sustainable fisheries, reduce waste, and provide quality consumer products such as durable aquatic leathers and, later, Chitoskin™ textiles.”
Tidal Vision’s naturally tanned and sustainably-harvested Alaska salmon leather will launched on Kickstarter on May 27. Their proprietary tanning formula has been perfected over 25 years and, for the first time, combines durability with environmentally-friendly ingredients in the process. The company will use the Kickstarter crowdfunding website as an opportunity to pre-sell their new products, as well as a means to fund the startup.
Following the aquatic leather launch, Tidal Vision will make their first Chitoskin™ textiles and products available this fall. Chitoskin™ textiles for apparel and performance wear are naturally odorless because they contain chitosan. Chitosan is a material in crab and shrimp shells that naturally inhibits odor and is also 100 percent biocompatible.
Tidal Vision’s team invented a new method of extracting chitosan without the use of harsh chemicals. The process also produces chitosan with a higher tensile strength than is currently produced, which opens up many possibilities for chitosan to be used.
Based on a recent survey, 89 percent think that sustainability is important, but about 50 percent expect sustainable products to come with compromises in either price or quality.
“We think sustainability should not be a compromise. Broader use of these byproducts through the innovative processes and sources Tidal Vision uses, helps makes sustainable fishing advantageous economically, environmentally and socially,” Kasberg said.
“Consumers value sustainability, and they want quality and affordability just as much,” Kasberg added. “We have built the foundation of this company on meeting all of those requirements. This is an exciting time for the ocean product industry in Alaska. We are encouraged by the strong support we have already received for this new model.”
We are excited about the innovations Tidal Vision is making in the textile industry. We're looking forward to watching Craig and his team turn fish waste into a quality product that can be enjoyed not only by Alaskans who know the important full circle of their origins, but for people elsewhere seeking a sustainable story in the consumer marketplace.
Stay tuned for a Tidal Vision / Salmon Sisters collaboration coming this fall. Yahoo!
To learn more about Tidal Vision and their products, visit their Kickstarter page.