Palmar

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused an exponential increase in single-use PPE in both medical and non-medical environments. As countries around the world ease lockdown restrictions, the demand is likely to increase as more people travel on public transport and return to work. Current glove options present a significant environmental risk as they are often non-biodegradable and prone to littering. Palmar is a fully compostable glove alternative that will provide wearers protection while limiting the impact on the environment. Palmar will reduce indirect community transmission and slow the spread of COVID-19 across the world. It will be especially beneficial in areas where hand washing facilities are limited or impractical, when used in conjunction with general hand hygiene. Palmar may offer benefits for not only physical health but also mental health as it will give wearers more confidence to return to society and allow more interaction with our local communities.

As the demand for PPE increases as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, as does the resultant waste. Current glove options on the market are designed for medical professionals and are made from non-biodegradable materials that are harmful to our environment. Furthermore, without practical PPE disposal options, many cities have experienced PPE littering which puts both our environment and local communities at risk.

Palmar is a stick-on glove designed to provide protection to the areas of the hand most vulnerable to contact with contaminated surfaces: the thumb, the index finger and the palm. Without the need for elastics, Palmar is able to utilise more environmental solutions, including compostable plastics similar to those used in modern plastic shopping bags, that fully decompose within 6 months, leaving no toxic residue. Palmar is suitable for disposal in food/green waste bins. After use, Palmar is easily and safely removed using a small cardboard tab at the wrist, reducing the risk of contamination. The sleeve doubles as a safe disposal option and avoids the product from being disposed of inappropriately and contributing to littering.

Palmar is beneficial to a range of people in society, including those returning to work and children returning to school and play groups. Not only can Palmar protect the physical health of communities, but also empower individuals to carry out daily tasks, such as shopping, going to work or attending school, with the confidence that they are protecting themselves and their communities. Dr Katie Cremin, Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy at St James Hospital, Dublin has approved Palmar's design and noted that Palmar could be an ideal option for children. Group play is an important part of children’s development that has been greatly disrupted due to social distancing. With Palmar, children may be able to more safely engage in group play with shared objects without risking their physical health.

Avoiding a ‘second peak’ of COVID-19 cases with low-cost solutions will save millions of lives and, in turn, millions of euros in healthcare costs. The virus can be transferred from one surface to another through indirect contact transmission. Hand hygiene is therefore extremely important to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Sometimes there are no hand washing facilities available or it is impractical, for example when out shopping or in the office. Palmar is a low-cost solution that is easy to use and beneficial for a range of people, including those returning to work and children returning to school.

Current glove options on the market are designed for use by medical professionals and are often made from non-biodegradable materials that are harmful to our environment. Biodegradable options currently available on the market typically break down within 5 years but leave behind toxic residue.

As the need for PPE in non-medical environments increases in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, there is a huge demand for a new and innovative approach to the disposable glove that minimises our impact on the environment.

As a stick-on glove, Palmar is a unique application of skin-adhesive technology and is inspired by research into the human grasp. Palmar's unique shape and design minimises the use of materials without compromising on protection. Without the need for elastics, Palmar can make use of more environmental solutions including compostable plastics, similar to those used in plastic shopping bags. This reduces the decomposition period to just 6 months and leaves behind no toxic residue. Palmar is fully compostable and suitable for disposal in green waste bins.

Skin safe adhesive is used to attach the glove to the palm. Taking inspiration from the screen printing process, the areas that require higher adhesion are designed with a higher density of glue dots while in other areas, a lower density of dots is used to allow optimal dexterity of the hand without compromising on protection.

Furthermore, Palmar’s unique in-built disposal option discourages users from littering and helps to protect our environment and local communities.

As a stick-on glove, Palmar uses a unique application of skin-adhesive technology that is most often used in medical environments in products such as plasters and gauzes. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in this area for medical technology to be affixed directly to the skin. As a living organism, skin can be a particularly challenging surface to work with but as Palmar is designed for short-term use, issues of comfort and breathability are secondary to its performance as a protective barrier. More importantly, Palmar ensures a secure fit around the hand while allowing for optimal dexterity to allow wearers to undertake daily tasks easily with the confidence that they are protected.

Stick to skin adhesives are currently used widely in the medical field in products such as medical-grade tape, plasters and, more recently, wearable devices and technologies. When selecting a skin adhesive, it is important to consider the wear time and comfort. Palmar is designed for a short wear time so considerations around comfort and breathability are secondary to its performance, dexterity and adhesiveness. Not only must the materials be of high quality, they must take into consideration common skin allergens and irritants and meet certain safety testing standards. Silicone adhesives lend themselves well to Palmar as they are gentle on sensitive skin and suitable for use by children and elderly people. They leave little-no residue and are suited for short wear times.

This video by 3M MedTech explores the different properties and functions of medical grade adhesives, including silicon based solutions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvSAfC7nWVs

The SARS-CoV-2 is a large sized virus (approximately 120 nm in diameter, although often carried in droplets larger than this) that non-porous compostable plastics should be impermeable to. Further testing is required to ensure Palmar is impermeable to the coronavirus and other viruses.

Our theory of change is that by providing sustainable alternatives to PPE, it will protect the mental and physical health of communities while minimising our impact on the environment. By design, Palmar will also increase awareness of both hand hygiene and of suitable and safe PPE disposal through its integrated disposal unit.

The immediate output of increased adoption of Palmar is reduction in indirect community transmission of Covid-19 and reduced plastic waste and littering.

The longer-term outcome of Palmar is a contribution to fewer Covid-19 infections and an avoidance of a second peak of cases. Preventative measures are key as we begin to see the easing of Covid-19 lockdown restrictions around the world. Avoiding a ‘second peak’ with low-cost solutions will save lives and, in turn, millions of euros in healthcare costs.

Not only can Palmar help improve the physical health of communities, but also improve mental health as individuals will be able to more confidently adapt to a "new normal". In a survey in the UK (CIPD, 2020), 44% of respondents voiced concerns about going back to work as the lockdown eases and over 60% of Americans feel scared shopping in large supermarkets (CR Research, 2020). Palmar has the potential to empower individuals to more confidently return to society with caution and suitable protection.

Dr Katie Cremin (St James Hospital, Dublin) additionally sees the potential of Palmar to enable children to more safely engage in group play, an activity curtailed by current protocols. Loneliness in children may have a significant impact in the long term: studies suggest young people who experience loneliness may be up to three times more likely to develop depression in the future (Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 2020).

Palmar will also lead to a reduced impact on the environment as less PPE will find its way into food chains and waterways and take up less space in landfill.

Education and awareness is a main aim for Palmar. Palmar is not a replacement for hand washing and general hygiene which remain as the first line of defence against the Covid-19. Palmar offers an intermediary option between traditional gloves and hand washing when hand washing is impractical. Palmar would additionally inform the public about safe PPE application, usage, removal and disposal and develops effective and clear messaging.

As identified by Dr Katie Cremin, Assistant Professor in Occupational Therapy at St James Hospital, Dublin, Palmar may offer a normalised solution for children returning to school and play groups. Interactive and group play involving shared surfaces, such as balls, is important for children’s development but may pose a risk for contamination. Palmar offers a solution that is disposable and easy to apply and remove where hand washing is impractical. Child-sized Palmars could be designed, alongside child-friendly resources and guides to promote safe and effective use.

For individuals with skin conditions, such as eczema and psoriasis, excessive hand washing and use of alcohol sanitisers can irritate the skin. As an alternative to hand sanitisers and full gloves, Palmar offers a practical in-between that reduces the risk of irritation. Careful selectrion of adhesives would ensure that Palmar is hypoallergenic. Beyond infection control, Palmar would offer a more environmentally friendly solution for people with skin conditions wishing to protect their hands when, for example, handling household cleaners.

David Craig, Meriel Willatt and Mikey Tarpey

In the midst of a dramatic Irish recession, architect David Craig transferred his design skills from architecture to consumer products. His first product, Scriba, an innovative connected device, was financed through Kickstarter and has been well received a number of awards for its unique user centric design and functionality.

The creative studio he formed, Dublin Design Studio has grown to include a multitude of designers, creatives, ergonomists, engineers, and developers, all sharing a singular focus of creating quality design and innovation. We are experts in product development, brand management and route-to-market strategies.

Dublin Design Studio is aligned with a number of 3rd level research institutions in Ireland, supported through Enterprise Ireland and additionally operate with Cartamundi as the manufacturing partner for the Scriba device.

Currently, Palmar is at a concept stage. Applying to SOLVE will give access to a supportive community of peers, funders and experts who can help us accelerate the development of Palmar to be manufacture ready through strategic advice and connections.