In 2023, biodegradable solutions failed to address global e-waste effectively, with only 5-10% of 2.18 million metric tons of biodegradable plastics properly composted due to limited facilities. This led to significant microplastics pollution. Furthermore, the transportation and composting of this waste generated about 300,000 metric tons of CO2 annually. Composting sites also improperly disposed of toxic electronic components from PCBs due to the difficulty of separation. 

Aquafade is an innovative biocompatible and water soluble plastic that is designed to replace current plastic materials used in electronics to minimise e-waste. Our devices are designed to simply dissolve away when the casing is opened and will naturally biodegrade in the sewage system. This obviates the need to transport these materials to a central facility to be recycled; which both reduces the investment required by local governments to process waste and also allows for local communities to financially benefit from the recovery of the precious electrical components.

Our competitive advantage lies in being fully water-soluble. Most competitors only offer water-soluble laminates, which allow for the separation of electronic components but still contain solid substrates that cannot be disposed of through sewage systems. Consequently, their primary solid waste must be transported by trucks to composting sites for proper disposal, or it risks releasing micro-plastics into the environment. Notably, this application to both PCB board and appliance housing, which represents the majority of the product's degradation, is unprecedented.

For all e-waste generated to date. It is estimated to contain about 7% of the world's reserves gold. If aquafade replaces 1% of e-waste, it will prevent 140,000 tonnes of toxic and carcinogenic materials from potentially entering the environment. It will reduce the emissions associated with transporting this waste by approximately 4.25 million tonnes of carbon dioxide and it will save $4 billion in cost compared to composting the equivalent mass of bio plastics.

-UKRI Smart Grant Winner

-Incubated by Innovation RCA

-Terra Carta Finalist

-Featured on Wallpaper Magazine