Nominerad

Stora ingenjörspriset i Hållbarhet 2022

SaniSOLE team seeks an alternative that counters critical sustainability problems in the current business of single-use disposable sanitary products (diapers, pads, etc.) relying on fossil-based resources, non-biodegradable plastics, and toxic microplastics contaminate when disposed of. The available solutions in the market are not attractive to the vast majority of customers as they require a considerable change in their dynamics for adopting these solutions. After six years of research, they have developed the first prototype materials serving as an all-in-one solution to sanitary products by manufacturing these using biopolymers obtained as waste from the industry. These natural materials are bio-based, biodegradable, and harmless to the environment, providing circularity to this growing market without changing the customer's dynamics. The contribution of this innovation is so big that if their developed prototypes replace only 2% of the current market, 10 kg/customer/year or 580 000 tons/yeart of plastic waste from products sold can be eliminated. In other words, if 700 people use these products in the future, they will reduce the CO2 emissions equivalent to more than 100 000 cars annually!