Sources: 
Austin-based Hiro Technologies is pioneering a sustainable solution to the massive landfill problem caused by disposable diapers. The startup has developed diapers embedded with fungi capable of breaking down plastic, a major component of diaper waste.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, an estimated
4 million tons of diapers were discarded in the U.S. in 2018 alone, with little to no recycling or composting options available. Hiro Technologies co-founder
Tero Isokauppila, also founder of medicinal mushroom company Four Sigmatic, highlighted that there are
more than 100 species of fungi known to degrade plastics.
"By nine months, the product appears as black soil - just digested plastic and essentially earth," Isokauppila explained, emphasizing the product’s potential to transform waste into nutrient-rich soil.
The company strategically chose diapers as their initial focus because they represent the
top household plastic waste item, according to company representative Agrawal. This innovation could significantly reduce the environmental footprint of disposable diapers, which currently contribute heavily to landfill mass.
Hiro Technologies’ approach offers a promising path toward mitigating plastic pollution in landfills by harnessing natural fungal processes, potentially revolutionizing waste management in the baby care industry.
Sources: Austin startup Hiro Technologies has launched disposable diapers embedded with fungi that break down plastic, aiming to reduce landfill waste. With over 4 million tons of diapers discarded annually in the U.S., the product transforms used diapers into black soil within nine months, offering a sustainable solution.
