UK’s Prince Charles wants to put masks on cows in ‘fascinating’ new plan
- The masks use state of the art technology to reduce the emissions of toxic greenhouse gases emitted by cows’ mouths and nostrils, not from powerful flatulence
- The were designed by Zelp, a start-up that won a competition that is part of the Prince of Wales’ Sustainable Markets initiative
Britain’s Prince Charles, a lifelong environmentalist, has thrown his full support behind an initiative to put masks on cows.
Designed by Zelp, a start-up founded by Francisco Norris, this mask uses state of the art technology to reduce the emissions of toxic greenhouse gases. First, it catches the methane burped out by dairy and beef cows, before converting that gas into carbon dioxide and water.
Contrary to popular belief, around 95 per cent of the methane emitted by a cow comes from its mouth and nostrils, not from powerful flatulence. And it’s this methane that contributes to climate change, Zelp found.
The mask rests on the animal’s head and captures all methane emitted during an exhale. The methane then moves through a micro-sized catalytic converter, where it is converted into water vapour and carbon dioxide. Zelp claims its tests have already shown a 53 per cent reduction in methane emissions and it’s planning to raise that number to 60 per cent.
In the inaugural Terra Carta Design Lab competition held at the royal College of Art in London, the invention won one of the four US$96,160 prizes up for grabs.
The contest forms part of the Prince of Wales’ Sustainable Markets initiative and the Prince, alongside a panel of fellow judges, had the final say on the winners. Later that week, at an exhibition showcasing the designs, he called the device “fascinating”.
