INTERVIEW 28 Alternative Proteins Magazine April 2024 Nathalie Berezina, CEO of Norbite: “Let’s be positive and dream about the future. We are not so far away from long-distance space trips. When we are talking about circularity on earth, it is nice to have, but when we are talking about long-distance space trips then circularity is a must have. Then it is mandatory to build a type of circular system where waste from one process becomes a resource or materials for another one and re-enter the system. In this connection, I assume that it is interesting to mention that Norbite’s first project was related to space.” Sweden-based Norbite, which recently joined the insect industry, contributes to the solution of two important world problems at the same time with its field of activity. The first of these problems is plastic pollution, with the second being supplying sustainable food. Although it may be a bit difficult for us to think that these problems have a single solution, Norbite CEO Nathalie Berezina explains this in a very clear way for us. "Norbite has created, controlled and protected a process using a specific insect, Galleria mellonella, whose digestive activities enable it to convert plastic waste into proteins and lipids," says Berezina. And adds: "Norbite's disruptive approach offers a new economic reality for the end-of-life polymeric materials for which there are no viable re-use or recycling solutions to-date." In this recycling method, insects grown with polymeric materials are also utilized in industrial applications such as feed and food. Norbite CEO Berezina shared an intriguing detail about the company's first project, which was related to space, and answered our questions about Norbite's promising recycling methods for the future. Miss Berezina, firstly could you tell us a bit about Norbite? What could you tell us about your company’s field of activity and practices? Norbite was established in July 2020. Based on a novel insect - based biorefinery technology, we tackle the problems of plastic waste pollution and transfer plastic waste into valuable bioproducts as proteins and lipids. Thus, Norbite focuses on two prominent global issues as plastic pollution and sustainable food supply for the growing human population. We use scientific and technological innovations to address these real-world problems. A STEP FROM PLASTICS TO PROTEINS LARVAES THAT EAT PLASTIC
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