In Brief

  • Challenge: Plastics Challenge
  • Challenge Type: SFI Future Innovator Prize
  • Status: Complete

The Challenge

More than 5.5 million tonnes of plastic waste is generated annually by the world’s bioscience and clinical labs. This is 2% of the total plastic waste, despite the fact that researchers represent a negligible fraction of the world’s population.  Incineration of these plastic consumables causes a significant amount of CO2 and noxious emissions and has a detrimental effect on climate change

The Solution

Develop a new eco-solution for lab consumables using biodegradable polymers suitable for landfill. These will combine sustainable synthesis and precision production of disposable microfluidic lab consumables as a killer application. This technology disruption will eliminate CO2 emissions from incineration and will provide a basis for sustainable, environmentally friendly bioscience/clinical labs.

UN SDG Alignment

Goal 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns

The Team

  • Team Lead: Dr Nan Zhang, University College Dublin
  • Team Co-Lead: Prof. Wenxin Wang, University College Dublin

Societal Impact Champion

  • Dr Michael Gilchrist, MiNAN microfluidic innovation Ltd.