A single baby can use around 6,000 disposable diapers during their first years of life.
The problem is that most contain petroleum-derived plastics that can remain in the environment for centuries.
HIRO Technologies launched with that challenge in mind. Founded in 2021, by entrepreneur Miki Agrawal and Finnish businessman Tero Isokauppila, the American startup sought to reduce the environmental impact of diaper waste with a technology inspired by fungi.
The idea arose when Agrawal became a mother and began to question the environmental impact of the thousands of diapers that her son, Hiro, would use. Hiro ended up inspiring the company’s name.
After trying reusable alternatives and other eco-friendly products without finding a solution that balanced comfort, performance and sustainability, Agrawal decided to develop a new proposal.
The inspiration came from learning about research on microorganisms capable of degrading certain types of plastic. At that point, HIRO assembled a scientific team to develop MycoDigestible, a technology based on mycelium, a network of filaments that make up fungi.
Mycelium is not part of the diaper.
Each unit incorporates a small sachet, called the HIRO Pouch or MycoPod, which contains a proprietary blend of dormant mycelium. After changing the diaper, the user inserts the sachet inside before discarding it. The moisture generated by urine, feces and the environment activates the mycelium weeks later, allowing the release of enzymes that begin the process of degradation of some of the plastic components of the diaper.
According to the company, this technology seeks that the degradation process begins a few weeks after activation and that certain soft plastics can degrade in less than twelve months under appropriate conditions.
Laboratory tests show that mycelium begins to colonize the material about two weeks after activation. However, the company continues to evaluate its performance in different types of landfills and environmental conditions to validate its performance in real-world scenarios.
Innovation also achieves product design. HIRO diapers use up to 50% less plastic than many conventional alternatives, incorporating unbleached cotton, removing the chemical moisture indicator — the well-known blue line — and maintaining high levels of absorption and comfort.
According to the company, these improvements make it possible to reduce part of the environmental impact without affecting the product’s functionality.
Although the technology is still being validated via additional studies and testing in real conditions, HIRO represents one of the most innovative proposals within the baby products industry.
Source: Hirodiapers https://hirodiapers.com