Could poopy diapers solve the plastic trash crisis? A Texas startup thinks so

Elizabeth Tenety
·3 min read
An image of a dad changing his baby's diaper
Canva/Motherly

In a groundbreaking initiative, scientists and climate activists are turning to an unexpected source in the fight against plastic pollution: baby diapers and fungi. Yes, you read that right—diapers filled with baby poop and the incredible power of plastic eating fungi. This innovative idea has the potential to address one of humanity’s most persistent environmental challenges—plastic waste clogging our landfills and oceans.

The minds behind the mission

Tero Isokauppila, the founder of Hiro Technologies, has teamed up with Miki Agrawal, a visionary entrepreneur known for tackling taboo topics. Agrawal, who previously founded the bidet company Tushy and the women’s underwear line Thinx, has now partnered with Isokauppila to launch Hiro Technologies. The Texas-based startup, named after Agrawal’s son, is at the forefront of developing eco-friendly solutions to combat plastic pollution.

Related: How to talk to kids about climate change and sustainability

The science of plastic-eating fungi

The journey began 15 years ago in the Amazon rainforest, where scientists first discovered fungi capable of breaking down plastics. Now, a Kickstarter campaign by HIRO Technologies is bringing this research out of the lab and into homes, aiming to scale up this natural solution. The secret lies in a patented blend of fungi that metabolizes plastics, turning them into simpler, environmentally friendly components.

HIRO’s innovative product lineup includes a Plastic Breakdown Kit, which allows users to witness fungi in action as it digests everyday soft plastics, and their headline-grabbing Mycodigestible Diapers—baby diapers infused with fungi that begin decomposing in landfills, reducing the environmental footprint of one of the largest sources of household plastic waste.

Why diapers?

Baby diapers are a massive contributor to landfill waste, accounting for the #1 plastic household waste item and the third most common item found in landfills. Traditional diapers can take hundreds of years to decompose. HIRO’s solution combines its fungi with unbleached cotton diapers, enabling the decomposition process to start as soon as the diaper reaches a landfill.

According to HIRO, this technology doesn’t just target diapers—it has the potential to revolutionize the decomposition of plastics across multiple industries. Around 70% of soft plastics share similar properties, meaning HIRO’s fungi could tackle a significant portion of global plastic waste.

Plastic pollution isn’t just an eyesore—it’s infiltrating our bodies, our food systems, and even our reproductive health. Traditional recycling and cleanup efforts are not enough. We need innovative solutions, and HIRO’s approach—using natural systems to decompose what was once thought to be indestructible—could change the game.

Screen Shot 2024 12 19 at 12.38.23 PM Motherly
HEROTechnologies via Kickstarter

This isn’t just a technological breakthrough; it’s a call to action. HIRO’s Kickstarter campaign funds critical research to make plastic-eating fungi a scalable reality. Backers can be part of this movement by purchasing a Plastic Breakdown Kit or pre-ordering a HIRO Diaper Bundle, helping push this groundbreaking science forward.

The invitation

If we’re going to solve the global plastic crisis, we need bold ideas—and everyone to pitch in. Whether it’s starting small with a fungi-powered terrarium at home or rethinking how we approach daily waste like diapers, HIRO’s mission is clear: let’s turn nature’s brilliance into a sustainable future.

So, are you ready to make baby poop and mushrooms the heroes we didn’t know we needed? The plastic crisis won’t wait, and with HIRO, the solution might be closer than we think.

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Related: 7 simple ways to make sustainable, eco-conscious changes at home

Sources:

  1. End-of-life management of single-use baby diapers. 2022. ScienceDirect. End-of-life management of single-use baby diapers: Analysis of technical, health and environment aspects.

  2. HIRO: Plastic-Eating Fungi! Kickstarter. HIRO: Plastic-Eating Fungi!

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