Project description DEENESFRITPL Novel filter to catch microplastics with every wash Here’s something to think about on laundry day: the washing of synthetic clothing is the main source of primary microplastics in the oceans. Even one synthetic garment in a load of laundry can release thousands of microfibres. The EU-funded MIMBOX project has figured out a way to keep microplastics from reaching the waterways. Using self-cleaning filtering technology, it has developed the first ever add-on device that can connect to any type of washing machine to capture microplastics. What is more, the MIMBOX device cuts water consumption by up to 70 % by cleaning and recycling the greywater, in addition to reducing the energy consumed for water heating by up to 30 %. Show the project objective Hide the project objective Objective Microplastics are a huge source of pollution in our seas, with up to 1.5 million tons being released per year. This poisons the underwater ecosystem and even climbs back up in the food chain to affect human health (estimates show that we eat about 5 grams of plastic each week). Washing machines contribute to about 35% of this problem, in the form of the 700,000 pieces of synthetic microfibres found in the greywater of each wash.Our company Mimbly has designed the Mimbox, the first ever “plug-and-play” add-on device that can connect to any type of washing machine to capture the microplastics released during each wash, acting as a single barrier to retain microplastics as small as 50 microns from reaching the waterways. At the heart of its innovation is a self-cleaning filtering technology, of which we are in a patent process. The Mimbox also cuts up to 70% of water consumption by cleaning and recycling the greywater, as well as reduces in a 30% the energy consumed in water heating, all with unaltered quality in the wash results. Additionally, it includes a data service functionality for customers to optimise their wash cycles.Our first commercialisation of the technology is aimed at industrial washers and it is compatible with all brands, sizes and generations of washing machines. The Mimbox offers an attractive average payback period of 2.5-year during 11-year industrial washer lifetime, and it is the perfect compliance solution for upcoming regulations and customer’s environmental sustainability policy and brand.The EIC accelerator project will setup and run 15 B2B customer pilots with the Mimbox MVP and demonstrate their results to additional stakeholders. We will establish scalable manufacturing partnership and distribution channels and achieve all the certifications for market release and scale-up. Our technology is expected to be used for over 100,000 washers by 2025, saving more than 1,200 tons of microplastics and 23 million m3 of water. Fields of science natural sciencesearth and related environmental sciencesenvironmental sciencespollutionnatural sciencesbiological sciencesecologyecosystems Keywords MIMBOX Programme(s) H2020-EU.3. - PRIORITY 'Societal challenges Main Programme H2020-EU.2.3. - INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Innovation In SMEs H2020-EU.2.1. - INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Leadership in enabling and industrial technologies Topic(s) H2020-EIC-SMEInst-2020-4 - H2020-EIC Accelerator pilot –SME Instrument - Green Deal Call for proposal H2020-EIC-SMEInst-2018-2020 See other projects for this call Sub call H2020-EIC-SMEInst-2018-2020-4 Funding Scheme SME-2 - SME instrument phase 2 Coordinator MIMBLY AB Net EU contribution € 1 850 625,00 Address HOLTERMANSGATAN 1 B 411 29 Gothenburg Sweden See on map SME The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed. Yes Region Södra Sverige Västsverige Västra Götalands län Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 2 643 750,00
