Robert Luo // Founder of Mi Terro

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In episode 57 of the Disruptors for GOOD podcast, I speak with Robert Luo, founder of Mi Terro, on his biotech company that created protein fiber from milk waste that could revolutionize two of the largest industries in the world.

Robert Luo first came face to face with the gargantuan issue of dairy waste during a visit to his uncle’s dairy farm in China where he discovered buckets and buckets of spoilt milk.

He thus founded Mi Terro, a biotechnology company that reengineers leftover milk into sustainable fibers that can replace plastic in the fashion, medical and packaging industries.

Mi Terro rescues excess milk from its dairy farm partners, skims it to remove fats before dewatering it to turn the liquid into powdered milk. It is then dissolved once again and purified to remove the bacteria, or the so-called ‘bad’ casein, from expired or spoiled milk. Casein makes up 80% of milk protein.

Luo considers costs and material performance as the two key challenges for sustainable clothing brands.

Raw materials touted as more sustainable, such as bamboo or Tencel, are still more expensive to produce compared to petroleum-based fibers or cotton. In addition, production oil-based or petrochemical textiles are sweat-absorbent, long-lasting, and have a stretchiness that eco-friendly fabrics often don’t.

The responsible start-up claims to have addressed these issues by producing a fiber that’s moisture-wicking, durable, and cheaper to produce compared to organic cotton.

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