This winter, when Luo Yonghao donned his “shark skin,” biomimetic antibacterial technology truly took off. On December 3, 2019, the “Old Man and the Sea” high-tech launch event was held in Beijing, bringing Sharklet®—a physical antibacterial and anti-fouling technology based on marine biomimicry—into the public eye.
Is this technology really that impressive? Immediately after the event concluded, Greencreate—a fast-growing company specializing in original antimicrobial home goods—couldn’t stay silent. They publicly challenged Luo Yonghao to a showdown. “The physical antimicrobial and anti-fouling technology Sharklet® unveiled by Luo Yonghao is indeed cutting-edge, but it also has some ‘blind spots’ in the antimicrobial field,” said Qiu Dengwei, Greencreate’s project lead, to reporters.
What qualifies a company that has been quietly building its capabilities to challenge Luo Yonghao? What technological blind spots lie behind Luo's antibacterial technology? In the upcoming battle for supremacy in antibacterial technology, who will emerge as the true leader? Greencreate clearly has something to say.
PK1:
Does surface wear affect antimicrobial efficacy? VS Lifetime antimicrobial protection?
Lao Luo: “Sharklet® PU leather material surfaces can withstand over 10,000 daily friction cycles without compromising effectiveness.”
Greencreate: Lao Luo's shark-skin pattern relies on surface texture for antimicrobial action. If the surface wears down or becomes covered by liquids or stains, antimicrobial effectiveness may diminish. Material limitations also restrict its application areas and antimicrobial performance, while costs remain high. Our Greencreate products offer semi-permanent antimicrobial protection, with a long-lasting antibacterial effect matching the lifespan of many products. Our material is uniformly antimicrobial throughout. Even if a layer is shaved off with a knife, the newly exposed surface remains antimicrobial, rendering wear irrelevant. This property is particularly crucial for products like antimicrobial cutting boards.
PK2:
Antimicrobial rate of 95%? VS Over 99%?
Lao Luo: “Reduces bacteria by 95% without altering the material's inherent properties.”
Greencreate: Our products are SGS-certified with 99% antibacterial efficacy. (Current international standards, including Japan, require antibacterial rates above 99%.)
PK3:
Is physical antibacterial technology universal? VS Can inorganic antibacterial solutions be “chic and appealing”?
Lao Luo: “Sharklet® relies entirely on surface texture to inhibit bacterial contamination. Unlike common disinfectants in daily life, this physical antimicrobial technology builds a barrier between humans and bacteria. It achieves antibacterial and stain-resistant effects without triggering bacterial resistance, thus not accelerating the emergence of ‘superbugs’ and avoiding irreversible environmental pollution from chemical agents.”
Greencreate: While praising Sharklet®'s physical antimicrobial approach, Lao Luo has somewhat exaggerated the drawbacks of inorganic antimicrobials and downplayed their advantages—overgeneralizing and oversimplifying. We acknowledge the technical advancements of Lao Luo's solutions in specific applications, but hope he also recognizes that inorganic antimicrobials still offer safe, reliable, and long-lasting technologies and products like ours.
We utilize an eco-friendly antimicrobial solution composed of natural inorganic minerals, circumventing some limitations of silver ion-based antimicrobial agents. Through technological refinement, we have fundamentally achieved antimicrobial safety, efficacy, durability, and convenience. Our solution offers superior antimicrobial performance, environmental friendliness, and human safety, effectively addressing consumer concerns about harmful bacteria in home living environments.
PK4:
Sharklet® is “expensive”? VS Can antimicrobial solutions be mainstream?
Lao Luo: “Sharklet® technology only modifies the microstructure of material surfaces without altering the material itself. This means existing, long-term validated manufacturing processes require no re-verification. Rapid, low-cost application and product manufacturing can be achieved through injection molding, casting, embossing, and other techniques.”
Greencreate: While Lao Luo has addressed cost concerns, we maintain that Sharklet® entails relatively higher mold expenses. Our antimicrobial solution directly incorporates antibacterial agents into conventional materials, bypassing complex tooling processes and significantly reducing costs. Greencreate products have successfully penetrated both domestic and international markets.
The Hidden Champion Behind the PK:
An Overseas-Returned “Antimicrobial” Team Emerges
Is the appeal to Luo Yonghao sensationalism? Or the bold cry of a tech geek? With these questions, our reporter delved into the Greencreate team to uncover the innovation map behind it.
"Technology is a paradigm. As three partners suffering from severe ‘technology and design cancer,’ we deeply admire Luo Yonghao. Having dedicated so long to antimicrobial technology, we noticed consumer blind spots in this field and felt compelled to use media to spread foundational knowledge. Antimicrobial solutions aren't mysterious—they can be fun and even sexy."
So stated Qiu Dengwei, partner at Greencreate, to our reporter.
This team of overseas returnees, focused on “original antimicrobial home products,” has been building momentum in this space. Behind Greencreate stands Shenzhen Yijia Health Technology Co., Ltd., an innovative company integrating product design, new materials, mold development, and manufacturing. It specializes in home living goods, kitchenware, bathroom products, and infant/child items.
Beyond its overseas-educated background, Yijia Technology boasts a supply chain with significant “international flair.” It spans Guangdong's Shunde and Shantou regions, South Korea,
PK4:
Shark Skin Is “Expensive”? VS Can Antibacterial Technology Go Mainstream?
Lao Luo: “Sharklet® technology only modifies the microstructure of material surfaces without altering the material itself. This means existing, long-term proven manufacturing processes don't require revalidation. It enables rapid, low-cost application and product manufacturing through processes like injection molding, casting, and embossing.”
Greencreate: While Lao Luo has addressed cost concerns, we maintain that Sharklet still incurs relatively high mold expenses. Our antimicrobial technology directly incorporates antibacterial agents into conventional materials, bypassing complex mold-making processes and significantly reducing costs. Greencreate products have successfully penetrated both domestic and international markets.
The Hidden Champion Behind the PK:
A Returnee “Antimicrobial” Team Emerges
Is the appeal to Luo Yonghao sensationalism? Or the bold cry of a tech geek? With these questions, our reporter delved into the Greencreate team to uncover the innovation map behind it.
“Technology is a paradigm. As three partners afflicted with severe ‘technology and design obsession,’ we hold deep admiration for Luo Yonghao. Simultaneously, having dedicated so long to the antimicrobial field, we noticed potential blind spots among consumer-end users regarding antimicrobial technology. This compelled us to leverage media platforms for foundational professional education. Antimicrobial technology isn't mysterious—it can be both fun and compelling,”
stated Qiu Dengwei, partner at Greencreate, to our reporter.
This team of overseas returnees, dedicated to “original antimicrobial home products,” has been building momentum in this field. Behind Greencreate stands Shenzhen Yijia Health Technology Co., Ltd.—an innovative company integrating product design, new materials, mold development, and manufacturing. It specializes in home essentials, kitchenware, bathroom products, and baby items.
Beyond its overseas background, Yijia Technology boasts a distinctly international supply chain. It spans Guangdong's Shunde and Shantou, as well as South Korea. The company is a joint venture among three entities: a senior industrial design agency recognized as a “High-Tech Enterprise” and a “Council Member of the China Industrial Design Association”; a renowned South Korean new materials company; and a seasoned factory with over 20 years of expertise in home product R&D, manufacturing, and sales. Its product design and R&D centers are located in Guangdong Industrial Design City, China, and Busan, South Korea, while its manufacturing plant is situated in the Shantou Free Trade Zone, Guangdong.
According to Qiu Dengwei, Greencreate's entire product line incorporates the “NEOAM Antibacterial Solution.” Production processes are executed under the guidance of NEOAM technical engineers, with every step rigorously controlled to meet stringent standards. Immediately after production, samples are sent to NEOAM's Antibacterial Testing Center in South Korea for quality inspection of antimicrobial performance. Corresponding third-party testing is also arranged, and only after passing internal quality inspections for all product categories are items released for shipment. Additionally, based on the specific requirements of national and regional markets, Greencreate arranges for its antibacterial products to undergo testing by internationally recognized third-party institutions.
When the reporter met Qiu Dengwei at the Yijia Technology Design Center in Guangdong Industrial Design City, he was enthusiastically showcasing the latest antibacterial gloves and scrub brushes he had developed, speaking about them with great pride. Display racks showcased diverse product categories for kitchens, bathrooms, and maternal-infant care, all bearing certifications from SGS and other international authorities. Beside him, a team from a Guangzhou investment firm nodded frequently during in-depth discussions.
“This industry is entering a boom phase, with astute venture capitalists closely monitoring and favoring this sector. Over the past year, multiple VCs have approached us for collaboration,” Qiu stated.
