045 - Ryan W Hunt - Algae and Renewable Materials in the Circle Economy

Ryan Hunt is a physicist and bioengineer with degrees from the University of Georgia. Ryan has a passion for circular technologies including algae, photosynthesis, bioconversion and biopolymer manufacturing. Ryan co-founded ALGIX that creates sustainable technologies for environmental restoration and biomaterials under the BLOOM brand. His team collaborates with government and corporate partners for cleaning freshwater ecosystems and transforming municipal, industrial and agricultural waste products into renewable plant biomass and bioproducts. • On episode 45 of Supply Chain Next, Ryan W. Hunt talks with host Richard Donaldson about: • The background of Bloom and Algae X • The high-level process of replacing oil/petroleum with algae biomass • His background and education at University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia • The interest held in quantum mechanics, nano technology, physics, and electromagnetics • Working as an undergrad in bio and ag engineering • Being inspired by his home aquariums to investigate algae based fuels • The challenge of scaling algae-based fuels while making it price competitive • Polymer replacement in apparel and its durability • Setting up manufacturing centers in Asia • Inspiration from Elon Musk’s forward thinking • Work in India currently mixing bio-oil with crude • How Bloom is injecting material into the supply chain while sequestering Co2 from the atmosphere • Seaweed and soybeans used in early research in 2009 • Interest from packaging companies in large-scale production • Jumping in feet-first in 2014 with a $12 million dollar raise and a factory • Importance of ESG reporting and measurements to companies in investment • Entry into 3D printing using algae-based filament