The aim of this project is to develop an environmentally friendly tampon made from seaweed, called ‘TangPon’. This is intended to combine the medically beneficial properties of algae fibres with the advantages of marine permaculture. The aim is to provide menstruating women with a sustainable and healthy alternative to conventional cotton tampons. At the same time, the production of the Tangpon should help to minimise menstrual waste and contribute to the bioremediation (= ecological relief) of aquatic ecosystems.
According to UNICEF estimates, around 300 million people worldwide menstruate every day, including more than 300,000 people in Germany. The majority of them use disposable products such as tampons, which leads to an annual period waste of around 125,000 tonnes in the DACH region alone. This initiative, represented by the start-up VYLD, recognises the need to develop biodegradable disposable tampons to reduce annual period waste.
Conventional tampons are commercially produced from cotton and viscose, with the cultivation of cotton requiring a lot of fresh water, fertilisers and pesticides and contributing to global deforestation.
In contrast, marine permaculture algae require none of these resources and contribute to the restoration of marine habitats. They grow up to ten times faster than terrestrial plants, efficiently sequester carbon and are naturally recyclable as they can efficiently utilise excess nutrients.
Ines Schiller
A tampon that protects the sea
Tampons made from marine algae? What at first sounds unusual could shape the future of menstrual hygiene. In the TangPon project, the start-up Vyld is developing a biodegradable tampon made from macroalgae fibers, environmentally friendly, health-compatible and regenerative. The aim is to create a sustainable alternative to conventional products made from cotton and viscose, for people and for the environment.
While conventional tampons rely on resource-intensive materials such as cotton and viscose, and a lot of plastic, TangPon uses the advantages of marine permaculture. Algae grow quickly and completely without drinking water or land, require no pesticides or fertilizers and actively bind CO₂. They remove nutrients from overfertilized waters and thus contribute to the bioremediation of aquatic ecosystems. At the same time, a biodegradable product with positive properties for the skin is created.
The TangPon team developed its own test system to examine the suitability of algae fibers for use in tampons, including absorption behavior, gel formation and processability. First prototypes show promising results, especially with regard to health benefits. The technological maturity level could also be increased: from the first idea and proof of concept in the laboratory (TRL 3) to advanced demonstration (TRL 6–7).
Every year, around 125,000 tons of period waste are generated in the DACH region alone. TangPon wants to counteract this: with an environmentally compatible disposable product that can be integrated into existing production chains. The focus is on the use of innovative algae fibers, not only for tampons, but prospectively also for other absorbent products and textiles.
TangPon stands as a representative for a paradigm shift: away from linear disposable products, toward a regenerative circular economy. The project is embedded in the roadmap of the innovation space BaMS, Bioeconomy on Marine Sites, and addresses central cross-cutting topics such as the utilization of aquatic biomass, sustainable product development and societal acceptance.
Ines Schiller
Vyld GmbH
vyldness.de
