Thomas Field
University of Guelph
Ruben Burga
Keep this story going! Share below!
The innovation that Mirexus have created is called Nano by nature. It provides personal care, pharmaceutical and nutritional products that are natural and safe for the environment. Natures nano has also provided Mirexus the opportunity to give back to the community in a variety of ways.
The innovation of Nano by Nature was discovered 10 years ago at the University of Guelph by Dr. Dutcher and Dr. Terry Beveridge. When giving a detailed description of what the innovation is, Dr. Whiting said: "we remove the nanomaterials from the corn in their native state and we go above the call of duty to make sure we don’t modify the materials so there as natural as you can possibly get.” This innovation has opened many doors for Mirexus to spread among multiple markets. One of the main markets in which they are currently working in is the personal care market. Their bio-nano-material has successfully been used in multiple products ranging from anti-aging cream to moisturizers. Before the research they did in 2006, no one knew of the nanomaterial that was inside sweet corn kernels. This innovation of nanomaterial has changed the game on what ingredients to use in products. Dr. Whiting says: "In the personal care space which is the market we’re in today, the whole of that industry is moving away from synthetic ingredients towards natural ingredients and the market, especially since we're selling in the high-end market, rather than commodity market." Mirexus is leading the way in health and well-being and giving the whole market a reality check on ways to be more sustainable and healthy for the environment.
The original idea for Nano by Nature came from research. “We discovered back 10 years ago at the University of Guelph that sweet corn produces gobs of a naturally occurring nanomaterial inside of little corn kernels,” said Dr. Whiting. They knew that this discovery could impact the biotechnology landscape and provide new innovations for products with a focus on natural ingredients to provide a better footprint on the world. 7 years after they founded the innovation they brought in the current CEO Dr. Phil Whiting to begin to commercialize the innovation and start to make an impact.
On the Mirexus website, they discuss a report done by the World Technology Evaluation Center (WTEC) from 2010. The WTEC states that “Nanotechnology has been recognized as a revolutionary field of science and technology, comparable to the introduction of electricity, biotechnology, and digital information revolutions … The worldwide market for products incorporating nanotechnology reached about $254 billion in 2009.” Nanotechnology is the future of science products and Mirexus has an innovation that displays the impact nanotech has on society. An example of the impact Nano by Nature has is in the personal care business. Dr. Whiting said earlier, the personal care market is moving from synthetic to more natural ingredients, in the long run this innovation will convince other companies to move to more natural innovations in the future, creating a healthier impact in the market. Another great impact of the innovation is the usage in the pharmaceutical market. Their subsidiary Glysantis is developing therapies for multiple clinical uses. The nanomaterial they have discovered can be modified easily to become an ingredient for uses like targeted drug delivery, imaging and also diagnostics. The impact that Nano by Nature and nanotech as a whole on the medical industry is endless and will have lasting implications.
Nature by Nano benefits Mirexus because it is the foundation of the company. The bright idea of Natures Nano has led to millions of research money and a dedicated staff of 20 employees and 10 Co-op students. Nano by Nature has progressed Mirexus allowing the company to qualify for research funding, product testing, and growth. One of the great impacts that the innovation has done is funded the new headquarters that was just opened in Guelph. This new building has given Mirexus the ability to give back to the community and preserve the environment. Mirexus prides itself on harvesting their non-GMO sweet corn from local Ontario fields. They also developed a green manufacturing system exponentially decreasing their environmental footprint. Mirexus has also partnered with BullFrog Power and use 100% renewable energy.
Second, Mirexus brought local jobs to the community. Dr. Whititng says: “We have employed a bunch of people in Guelph. That’s been helpful. I don’t know what the proportion is but more than 50% of our employees are University of Guelph graduates and the ones that aren’t are generally speaking Waterloo or Laurier or McMaster graduates.” Providing jobs and also supporting the community through funding of green developments, they have set the standard for what it means for other companies to support social responsibility. On a brochure they provided discussing social responsibility, Dr. Whiting said: "Mirexus is committed to growing its business in an ethical & sustainable fashion. This includes embedding environmentally - friendly business practices, honest and open dealings with all those with whom we interact, and being a good corporate citizen." Mirexus has gone beyond just following legislation and sustainability, and employees pride themselves on creating a healthy community.
Another impact the innovation has done on the business is profitability. Like the economic theorist Michael Porter said: "Businesses profit from solving social problems.” This innovation has given Mirexus the opportunity to solve social problems with their nanotechnology, like pharmaceuticals and personal care, while also creating a profit.
Natures nano has provided Mirexus with multiple ways to benefit society and the environment as a whole. Like I explained before about the personal care products, this innovation has paved the way for other companies to look more into biotechnology and find more natural and beneficial methods of personal care. Natural nano has created a non-toxic, safe, and biodegradable benchmark for the whole market.
Another great example is the new headquarters they have built in Guelph, Ontario. It is a state-of-the-art facility that produces the smallest carbon footprint possible, boasting incredibly high energy efficiency. This building has provided the company with a commitment to safety, social and environmental responsibility, and to support local businesses.
Thirdly, their pharmaceutical subsidiary Glysantis is creating incredible nano-medicines that offer a wide range of clinical implications. This innovation can be modified efficiently to be ingredients for many purposes, such as targeted drug delivery, imaging, and diagnostics. On their website, they boast that "Their structure and non-toxicity makes it possible to overcome the biological barriers that limit the effectiveness of many therapies today." Innovations like this have numerous benefits of society and the environment with more discoveries, more benefit.
Get stories of positive business innovations from around the world delivered right to your inbox.
Dr. Phil Whiting, CEO
Mirexus is a biomaterial company that manufactures unique, natural solutions to personal care and the cosmetic industry. Their bio-nano material is made of natural phyto-glycogen nanoparticles that are found in corn, which makes their products very safe, non-toxic, and biodegradable.