Made Green
The development of PolyWhey helps reduce dependence on petroleum-based products and turns a by-product into a new natural product.
Turning a Waste into a Product
Whey, a by-product of cheese making, has a high BOD (biochemical oxygen demand) that can increase the burden on waste treatment facilities and can pollute rivers, lakes, and even the ocean. Over the last decade, this by-product has been used to create valuable products such as high-protein “energy bars” infant formula, and as a film coating for food-safe packaging. By reformulating whey into a durable, natural wood finish, a potential waste product is taken out of the waste stream and put to a useful purpose.
Turning Away from Petroleum
The production of oil-based wood finishes and other coatings, such as paint, have relied solely on petroleum – a non-renewable resource. PolyWhey is derived from a renewable resource and in a small way helps to reduce dependence on oil, contributing to a more sustainable world.
Places to see Vermont Natural Coatings
- Community Day Care & Preschool: Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Claire's Restaurant: Hardwick, Vermont
- ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center: benches by Raphael Groten, Burlington Waterfront at the base of College Street, Burlington Vermont
- Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park: Forest Center, Woodstock, Vermont
- Sprout Children's Store 110 Church Street, Burlington Vermont
Green Building Links
Partial funding for this project was provided by NCIC through a Rural Business Enterprise Grant from USDA Rural Development.