Long-time Comox Valley resident Paige Whitehead has created the first-ever eco-friendly glowstick.
It’s called the Nyoka Light Wand and uses natural enzymes to create light. Paige says the great thing about that is that it’s fully biodegradable and not toxic.
“Working with enzymes you can create reactions that are way more energy-efficient and eco-friendly and you end up without waste. This is just one aspect of that whole field of enzyme-based biotechnologies.”
The name means “transformation, healing and rebirth” and she says that’s a lot of what we all need and what the environment needs. She says she wanted to make everything centred around that concept.
Whitehead also says her inspiration for the project came from simply combining all of her interests together.
“I saw bioluminescence for the first time when I was 14 off the coast of Vancouver Island and its always been something I’ve been super interested in. I went to the University of Victoria for microbiology and I got really into Biotech. I love music festivals and I’m a huge environmentalist so together with all of my interests converged to developing this project,” says Whitehead.
It’s still in the early stages and on January 20th a “preemptive release” is scheduled where 100 of the light wands will be available. After that, she is hoping more interest will help her sell more of the eco-friendly glow sticks.
Whitehead says so far the support has been amazing.
“It has been phenomenal. People care so much to find ways to reduce their impact and this is just one of the many choices that are available. If this is a project that you think is interesting or cool please tell your friends and family, share it on social media because it helps so much.” Every little bit of help, every share, everyone you talk to about it, helps us so much,” she says.
If you are interested in learning more about the Nyoka Light Wand, visit Paige’s website.
A Kickstarter link for the project can be found here.
