Diapers Made from Jellyfish

January 15, 2017

by: Janet Aslin, BFP Staff Writer

What do jellyfish and diapers have in common? They are both contributors to environmental problems today. Warmer ocean temperatures have produced, among other things, an ever-increasing number of jellyfish; and, disposable diapers, which take hundreds of years to disintegrate and therefore are overwhelming our landfills. Two unrelated problems solved with one creative solution from Cine’al, an Israeli start-up: diapers made from jellyfish!

Jellyfish are found in all the oceans of the world but the name is a misnomer—because it lacks bones, the jellyfish is not a true fish. Over-fishing has caused a decline in its natural predators which, in part, has contributed to a problematic over-abundance of this water creature. In addition to the danger to swimmers, swarms of jellyfish can also clog underwater intake pipes for commercial facilities located along the ocean’s shore.

While the convenience of disposable diapers has revolutionized life for mothers, discarded diapers do present a serious problem for landfills. According to The Guardian, “the global diaper market size was estimated at $52bn in 2015, and set to reach $76.5bn by 2022.” Over 40 million disposable diapers are used daily in the US alone and each one takes hundreds of years to totally disintegrate.

Enter a material scientist from Tel Aviv University who began studying jellyfish and discovered that they have the capacity to absorb large amounts of liquid. Along with colleagues, he developed a “proprietary process [that] not only converts the jellyfish to dry, flexible, strong Hydromash but simultaneously adds properties such as: antibacterial, tissue that facilitates healing (for bandages), flexibility (for feminine hygiene pads), colors, scent and more” (Cine’al website). Hydromash absorbs several times more than its volume and disintegrates in less than 30 days!

Cine’al is developing its Hydromash for infant and adult diapers, feminine hygiene products and high-end medical bandages and sponges. Although not currently available for purchase, the company hopes to be marketing these environment-friendly products in the next eighteen months. Diapers and other absorbent products made from jellyfish have the potential to creatively solve one of the problems of today’s throw-away society.

Source: Bridges for Peace