What is the name of your organization?
Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa
What is the name of your solution?
HidroQapa
Provide a one-line summary or tagline for your solution.
Waterproof bioplastic made from chitosan extracted from shrimp shell waste
In what city, town, or region is your solution team headquartered?
Lisboa, Portugal
In what country is your solution team headquartered?
Portugal
What type of organization is your solution team?
Not registered as any organization
Film your elevator pitch.
What specific problem are you solving?
Globally, several tons of crustacean waste are generated due to the high consumption of seafood. Each EU citizen consumes 24kg of seafood annually, with shrimp alone accounting for 6% of this total, around 1,5kg per person. Shrimp shells make up 45% to 48% of total shrimp weight and are rich in valuable biopolymers like chitin and chitosan, yet are often discarded, worsening environmental pollution and resource inefficiency. Meanwhile, traditional water repellents, valued at $2.5 billion in 2022, are among the biggest sources of PFAS pollution and often contain toxic aerosols such as cyclohexane and isopropyl alcohol. PFAS are toxic, persistent substances used in consumer and industrial applications. According to the Health and Environment Alliance, PFAS-related healthcare costs reach €52–84 billion annually in Europe, where 12,5 million people live with PFAS-contaminated drinking
water. In the USA, PFAS-attributable disease costs are estimated to $62.6 billion. In response, and under the European Green Deal, Brussels announced in 2022 its intention to ban all PFAS by 2027. By converting shrimp shell waste into a biodegradable alternative to toxic water repellents, our project delivers a scalable solution. It embodies the blue-bioeconomy by protecting the environment and human health, while unlocking value from marine by-products.
What is your solution?
HidroQapa is an innovative solution to the blue and circular economy: a waterproof bioplastic in a form of a film derived from chitosan extracted from shrimp shell waste. Our solution is a bio-based alternative to replace synthetic and toxic aerosol-based waterproofing agents currently used in textiles and other industrial applications. Unlike conventional solutions containing cyclohexane, isopropyl alcohol and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, which are toxic to the aquatic biodiversity and human health, our bioplastic is biodegradable, environmentally safe, and enhances material durability. When applied, in liquid form, it creates a protective waterproof layer on fabrics while exhibiting bioluminescence under ultraviolet light, offering diverse beneficial uses. The technology utilized in HidroQapa relies on the natural film-forming of chitosan, ensuring both performance and sustainability. By repurposing seafood industry by-products, HidroQapa aligns with circular economy principles, reducing and adding economic worth to industrial waste while promoting sustainable innovation. Our solution is currently at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 3, demonstrating functionality in a laboratory environment, with further optimization planned for industrial environment. Our approach offers a pioneering contribution to the blue-bioeconomy, fostering environmentally responsible industrial practices while addressing global challenges associated with pollution, resource inefficiency, and toxic chemical exposure.
Who does your solution serve, and in what ways will the solution impact their lives?
HidroQapa supports industries dependent on waterproofing agents, especially textile manufacturers, environmental advocates, and communities involved in seafood processing. The textile industry, a major source of pollution, currently relies on hazardous chemicals for waterproofing. We introduce a biodegradable, chitosan-based bioplastic as a sustainable, non-toxic alternative, reducing the use of harmful substances and improving workplace and the surrounding areas safety, by minimizing exposure to toxic and synthetic chemicals. Additionally, by repurposing shrimp shell waste, our solution creates economic worth for the seafood industry, lowering disposal costs and encouraging by-product utilization. Ideally, HidroQapa will foster job creation and economic growth, particularly in coastal regions, where communities could benefit from circular economy practices and new income opportunities. Additionally, consumers also gain access to eco-friendly, non-toxic waterproofed textiles, reducing long-term health risks associated with toxic chemicals. On a larger scale, our innovation helps reduce environmental pollution and contributes to climate resilience. Also, HidroQapa aligns with multiple UN Sustainable Development Goals: promoting inclusive economic growth (SDG 8), fostering industry innovation (SDG 9), encouraging responsible consumption and production (SDG 12), protecting marine ecosystems (SDG 14), ensuring sustainable use of terrestrial and freshwater resources (SDG 15), and strengthening global partnerships for sustainable development (SDG 17).
