Cellsense provides sustainable fashion, jewelry, and cosmetic embellishments by replacing plastic beads and synthetic dyes with bio‑engineered microbial dyes embedded in an algae‑derived, cellulose nanocrystal matrix. Their room‑temperature polymer enables automated robotic syringe deposition, cutting production time up to 20×, reducing material costs by 70%, and using 400× less water while eliminating hazardous metals and waste.
Funding
Funding not disclosed
Founders
Product
Problem
Traditional fashion and cosmetic embellishments rely on plastic beads, synthetic dyes, and toxic metal coatings, which generate hazardous waste, consume large amounts of water, and require energy-intensive high‑temperature processing. These practices also involve repetitive manual labor and expose workers to unsafe conditions.
Solution
Cellsense replaces conventional plastic and chemically dyed embellishments with bio‑engineered microbial dyes combined with algae‑derived and cellulose nanocrystal materials. Their proprietary polymer sets at room temperature, enabling robotic syringe deposition of beads directly onto fabrics, which reduces production time by up to 20 × and cuts material costs by 70 %. The microbial dyes provide a vivid, customizable color palette—including fluorescent options—while using 400 × less water than synthetic dyes and eliminating lead‑based pigments and hazardous metals. The resulting beads are fully compostable, plastic‑free, and generate zero waste, offering a drop‑in, scalable alternative for fashion, jewelry, and cosmetic applications.
Target Audience
Primary customers are fashion brands, jewelry designers, and cosmetic manufacturers seeking sustainable, high‑performance embellishments that reduce environmental impact and streamline production.
Features
- Microbial dyes engineered for vivid colors and fluorescence, replacing toxic lead‑based pigments
- Algae‑based carbon‑sequestering matrix combined with cellulose nanocrystals for durability, transparency, and color retention
- Room‑temperature polymer that allows automation with robotic syringes, enabling 20 × faster bead deposition
- Production process consumes 400 × less water and eliminates high‑heat energy use compared to plastic bead manufacturing
- Fully compostable, plastic‑free beads that generate zero waste and remove hazardous metal pollutants
- Automation reduces six hours of manual labor to a 20‑minute robotic operation, improving worker safety and upskilling potential