New Partnership Offers Hope for Florida’s Algal Bloom Crisis
AECOM teams with Bloom Holdings to deploy revolutionary technology
TALLAHASSEE (Sept. 26, 2016) — AECOM, a premier, fully integrated global infrastructure firm, and BLOOM Holdings, LLC, a materials development company, have announced a strategic teaming agreement to deploy technology to mitigate harmful algal blooms. The joint initiative aims to provide an economic and ecologically sound solution to a problem that increasingly affects the world’s water resources.
BLOOM harvests wild algae from water bodies around the world, solar-dries the biomass and converts it to a key feedstock for producing flexible foams and plastic products. The algae-based feedstock is used in the manufacturing process for products ranging from sporting goods and athletic footwear to foam insulation and automotive components. BLOOM’s mobile harvesting units, developed by parent company ALGIX, remove algae as well as potentially harmful nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus that feed algae growth—returning clean, filtered water back to habitat.
Following the unprecedented statewide algal blooms in Florida this summer, BLOOM and AECOM—which provides planning, engineering, construction and scientific expertise to infrastructure challenges of all scales—began exploring options to extend sustainable mitigation approaches to algal blooms.
“Combining AECOM’s environmental and infrastructure experience with BLOOM’s patented technology provides an innovative avenue to mitigate the algae crisis,” said AECOM Vice President, Dan Levy. “This approach holds promise not just in Florida, but throughout the United States and other regions of the world.”
The BLOOM process is designed to be sustainable and does not use harmful chemicals. “BLOOM’s algae harvesting technology safely collects algae from freshwater bodies at risk of algal bloom before a potentially toxic algal bloom grows, and without disrupting the balance to the natural ecology,” said Rob Falken, BLOOM’s managing director.
AECOM Senior Project Geologist Bill Colona added “We look forward to working with Florida policymakers, state leaders and stakeholders to provide cost effective, practical ideas to help mitigate the algal blooms that are plaguing our coastal estuaries.”
Through AECOM, BLOOM’s trailer-mounted algae harvesting units are available for use by municipalities, local governments and state agencies charged with the responsibility of battling local algal bloom problems.
About AECOM
AECOM is built to deliver a better world. We design, build, finance and operate infrastructure assets for governments, businesses and organizations in more than 150 countries. As a fully integrated firm, we connect knowledge and experience across our global network of experts to help clients solve their most complex challenges. From high-performance buildings and infrastructure, to resilient communities and environments, to stable and secure nations, our work is transformative, differentiated and vital. A Fortune 500 firm, AECOM had revenue of approximately $18 billion during fiscal year 2015. See how we deliver what others can only imagine at aecom.com and @AECOM.
About BLOOM
BLOOM is an American high-performance materials manufacturer based in San Diego, CA and founded in 2015. Together, with their parent company, Algix, they have operations in Meridian, MS, and Wuxi/Yixing, China. BLOOM uses algae biomass harvested from freshwater sources around the world, (like lakes, rivers, and ponds) at high risk of algal bloom. Using algae biomass helps improve technical performance and offsets the use of petroleum ingredients found in conventional foams. Learn more at www.bloomfoam.com.
AMERICAS 16-0902
AECOM Contact:
Erik Miller
1.415.955.2804
erik.miller@aecom.com
Bloom Contact:
Lisa Miller
(850) 528-9229
LisaMiller@LisaMillerAssociates.com