Interview with the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Communications Officer of HuskMusk

Mrs. Georgia Triantafillidou and Mr. Nikolas Louroutziatis

We are delighted to have the opportunity to host an interview on our website www.cyprusalive.com regarding the company HuskMusk with Mrs. Georgia Triantafillidou, the Chief Executive Officer and Mr. Nikolas Louroutziatis, the Chief Communications Officer.

1. When was HuskMusk established?
HuskMusk was founded in November of 2022 under the JA Company Program and ERASMUS+.

2. What products do you offer?
We offer two innovative products. Husk packets are an eco-friendly and nontoxic alternative to silica gel packets that are harmful to the environment, humans, and animals. The rice husk is dried and encased in a corn fiber packet, which is fully biodegradable. These packets can be used anywhere, from backpacks and shoes to consumer products, to protect them from moisture. 

The room dehumidifiers are filled with a mix of rice husk and a scent that includes dried coffee grounds, lavender, and black musk. Because our products are completely biodegradable, they can be easily disposed of in soil. So, we implemented eggshells into the mix due to the fact that they are an excellent calcium source for soil and plants, repurposing our products as fertilisers. So our products are useful even when thrown away, having secondary purposes that contribute to a circular economy.

3. What does our name mean?
Husk Musk is our startup's name, which derives from the main ingredients used in our products. Husk is the delicate coating around each individual grain of rice that has extremely good moisture absorbing capabilities since it contains around 90% silica. Musk is the scent we use in our room dehumidifiers because it has anti-inflammatory and antihistaminic properties, as well as cardiovascular properties. Therefore, we came up with a catchy name that sums up our whole idea in two words! 

4. Where are you located? 
HuskMusk was created by 10 students from Foley’s school in Limassol, and we have achieved partnerships with local shops and international tree planting organisations. So our products can be found at Agno, a zero waste grocery store in Limassol, and Naturia. Furthermore, you can find more information about us on our website, www.HuskMusk.com, and on our social media accounts, @huskmukscy (on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok and Facebook).

5. What makes HuskMusk stand out and unique compared to other companies?
Our company is unique since all of our products are completely biodegradable, which means that when they are thrown away, nothing remains in the soil. Furthermore, the materials used provided useful nutrients, such as calcium, for the soil, so this means that our products become fertiliser when humans are done with them. Additionally, unlike other moisture absorbing packets, we use no chemicals, and the rice husk we use is considered agricultural waste that would have otherwise been burned. Every year, in China alone, 40 million metric tons of rice husks are burned and wasted. The coffee grounds that are used in our products would also be thrown away, since many shops have no use for them. When coffee grounds decompose in landfills, they release dangerous chemicals that contribute to global warming. So, in conclusion, we stand out from the competition because of our eco-friendly nature and sustainable products that work just as well as the other alternatives in the desiccant industry.

6. What is your goal for your business?
HuskMusk’s goal is to reduce agricultural waste and provide highly effective, eco-friendly products. We also strive to raise awareness and educate people on the importance of being eco-friendly and how many things that we consider normal are actually extremely polluting and dangerous to humans and the environment. At Huskmusk, our goal is to be as mindful of the natural world as possible!

Thank you very much Mrs.Triantafillidou and Mr. Louroutziatis for your time and information, we wish you all the best and we hope more people can understand the importance of being eco-friendly!