Project description
A new, improved, low-cost laundry detergent
Consumers want laundry detergents that are effective, biodegradable and safer to handle and store, at the same time being cost-efficient. Current soluble film polymers used in detergents are expensive, consequently increasing the price of the end product. In this context, the EU-funded SOLIMER project will develop a thermo-processable, biodegradable and water-soluble polymer that is suitable for all thermo-processing applications, predominantly injection moulding. Using a special formulation that incorporates higher sodium chloride and lower polyvinyl alcohol content, the result is a lower price per kilogram. Also, the increased solubility rate results in a high melt flow, which contributes to a 40 % advancement in processing time. What is more, this patented technology is non micro-bead forming, which is good for our oceans.
Objective
Demand from laundry detergent retailers to provide biodegradable detergent. The demand from laundry detergent retailers to provide biodegradable detergents in capsule form (‘pods’) which meet the increasingly strict safety and environmental standards has placed enormous pressure on detergent manufacturers. The underlying cause for this change has been the increase in demand from consumers for quick and convenient washing solutions which are less messy, enable proper dosing, are safer to handle and store, and reduce the risk of spills. Current soluble film polymers are price sensitive and expensive due to the high PVOH content, and hence the retail price of laundry pods using these films, especially multicompartmental ones, is high.
Our thermo-processable, biodegradable and water-soluble polymer is suitable for all thermo-processing applications, predominantly injection moulding. It utilises a special formulation which incorporates higher sodium chloride (NaCl) and lower PVOH content. This results in a lower price per kg, increases the solubility rate of moulded products using the formulation, stabilises the atmospheric water absorption of the PVOH, and results in a high melt flow. This all contributes to a 40% advancement in process time, thus reducing manufacturing costs. The net result of this polymer development is a dimensionally stable, cost effective, highly soluble polymer now for the first time suitable for laundry unit dose applications.
This patented technology is non micro-bead forming contributing to the clean-up of our oceans. Our target market is the detergent packaging subsector of the €336 million water-soluble PVOH film market, of which the consumer segment accounts for nearly 59%. Our concept has been tested, with very encouraging early results of our beta version. Based on the early market interest and end user feedback we have forecast sales of €103.6 million and a return on investment of 1476% over the five years following commercialisation.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- engineering and technology mechanical engineering manufacturing engineering
- engineering and technology environmental engineering waste management waste treatment processes recycling
- natural sciences chemical sciences inorganic chemistry alkali metals
- natural sciences chemical sciences polymer sciences
- natural sciences chemical sciences organic chemistry alcohols
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Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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H2020-EU.2.3. - INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Innovation In SMEs
MAIN PROGRAMME
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H2020-EU.3. - PRIORITY 'Societal challenges
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H2020-EU.2.1. - INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Leadership in enabling and industrial technologies
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
SME-1 - SME instrument phase 1
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) H2020-EIC-SMEInst-2018-2020
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
GL8 8AA TETBURY GLOUCESTERSHIRE
United Kingdom
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.