What is the name of your organization?
The Polyfloss Factory
What is the name of your solution?
The Polyfloss Factory
Provide a one-line summary or tagline for your solution.
We have invented a machine inspired by the principle of cotton candy making, to recycle plastic waste where it matters
In what city, town, or region is your solution team headquartered?
La Courneuve, France
In what country is your solution team headquartered?
France
What type of organization is your solution team?
For-profit, including B-Corp or similar models
Film your elevator pitch.
What specific problem are you solving?
Plastic pollution is one of the most urgent environmental issues of our time, but its impacts are not experienced equally around the world. From a climate justice perspective, it is clear that communities already facing economic and ecological hardships—particularly in developing countries—are disproportionately affected. These communities often lack the infrastructure to manage waste effectively or to protect their environments from contamination. As a result, plastic pollution severely impacts their soil, waterways, and coastal areas, threatening health, food security, and livelihoods.
Despite producing over 410 million metric tons of plastic annually, only 9% is recycled globally, while around 45% ends up in landfills, informal dumps, or the ocean—many of which are located in or near vulnerable regions. This environmental burden falls heavily on those who contribute the least to the problem and have the fewest resources to address its effects.
At the same time, these communities often struggle with inadequate housing, limited access to basic services, and increasing exposure to climate-related disasters. Tackling plastic pollution must go hand in hand with addressing broader inequalities. It is not just an environmental issue—it is a matter of climate and social justice.
What is your solution?
Polyfloss is creating circular economies for humanitarian and development contexts based on plastic waste with an innovative and field-friendly technology inspired by cotton-candy. The machine and set of tools we have invented, allow us to create fibers out of local waste. Contrary to other recycling machines (which create bricks, panels or 3D printing filaments), our technology opens up a wide variety of uses and crafts which can match local needs. It can be used to create textiles (woven, knitted or braided), but also building materials (insulation panels), plastic sheeting, packaging for food or medicine. The fact of turning the plastic waste into fibers not only opens up new opportunities, it allows to match a useless waste together with knowledge, tools and techniques that are widespread all over the world. Polyfloss provides the tools, knowledge and support to set up these circular economies anywhere in the world where it matters.
Who does your solution serve, and in what ways will the solution impact their lives?
Our technology empowers communities on the frontlines of climate injustice—especially those bearing the burden of unmanaged plastic waste.
In both humanitarian settings, like refugee camps in Syria, and development contexts, such as remote villages in Nepal, waste management infrastructure is often nonexistent. Isolated areas—whether mountainous, island-based, or conflict-affected—receive plastic-packaged essentials (e.g., food, water, medical supplies) but have no means to process or remove the resulting waste.
Our solution enables these communities to transform plastic waste into practical, high-impact products: thermal insulation, textiles, and durable storage goods. This circular, community-driven approach addresses three interlinked challenges: environmental pollution, lack of livelihoods, and limited access to essential goods.
In our insulation projects, for example, we’ve improved living conditions by reinforcing homes, schools, and public buildings against extreme temperatures—helping preserve education, create local employment, and reduce health risks.
By converting waste into resources, we support resilience, dignity, and climate adaptation—helping vulnerable communities protect themselves, their economies, and the environment they depend on.
