Avgol wins Innovation Award at RIGHT Hygiene conference

Avgol® has received the prestigious Innovation Award, at the RIGHT Hygiene conference in appreciation of its partnership with Polymateria in the development of pioneering biotransformation technology for nonwovens.

Mr. Sanjay Bhayani, Avgol’s Director of India Operations, received the prize during the annual event earlier this month in Delhi, India. He said that end-of-life difficulties with nonwoven fabric goods are as intricate as they are many. Whether it’s the simplest wipe material, the most common face masks, or the most intricate in the shape of newborn diapers, all used product wastes use polymeric resins that have a high degree of inertness and stability but are difficult to recycle and degrade. They at Avgol worked with their technical partners at Polymateria to develop a new sort of solution for the market, especially biotransformation technology.

Biotransformation is a unique functionality in which a conventional nonwoven fabric can be modified to react to specific triggers, thereby initiating a cascade, and importantly, a fundamental chemical transformation of the polymer resin into a wax that is readily degraded by naturally occurring bacteria, microbes, and fungi.

Mr. Bhayani added that the transition is initiated by the combined actions of decay’s natural elements – air, moisture, heat, and sunshine. Once activated, the substance transforms into a low molecular weight wax structure, leaving no microplastics or hazardous residue. Furthermore, if the product containing the biotransformation technology is discarded normally and facilities are available, it may be recycled using easily available ways.

He added that they intend to give a real-world answer to waste management by introducing the Biotransformation technology to the many possible markets in India. They especially intend to solve areas of fugitive waste generation and removal from the environment without introducing other, maybe more serious, problems.

Polymateria’s Chief Commercial Officer, Richard Horne, said that he is delighted that Avgol has achieved this award, which is testament to the step forward they have jointly made in generating 100% biodegradable nonwoven products. He wants to see these goods extensively used in India and beyond.

Avgol, an Indorama Ventures Limited firm, has the most comprehensive portfolio of lightweight, high performance spun-melt nonwoven fabrics in the worldwide hygiene industry. Polymateria, based at Imperial College London, is an advanced technology development business that has pioneered biotransformation technology to allow the most often contaminated plastic goods to safely return to nature. In 2021, the firm was recognized as a World Economic Forum Tech Pioneer.