ICABUS most innovative solution at Northumbrian Innovation Festival

Last week, our pitch for ICABUS technology was selected for the Northumbrian Innovation Festival in the United Kingdom. Out of 19 submissions, our film, along with four others, was awarded the title of most innovative solution, a wonderful recognition of our technology’s potential to significantly impact both the environment and the circular economy. The ICABUS technology received the most points, and we’re very proud of that.

Frans Durieux, owner of Purgatoria, talks in a short video about ICABUS: an innovative filtration technology that recovers cellulose from toilet paper fibers in wastewater.

What makes ICABUS unique is that it doesn’t stop at cellulose. The technology creates a filtration layer from the recovered fibers, significantly reducing the pores in the filters, which also traps microplastics.

Why is this important?
Currently, 87% of sewage sludge, including microplastics, ends up on agricultural land in countries like the United Kingdom and several EU countries. This means that microplastics end up directly in our soil and ultimately in our food. With ICABUS, we can capture these microplastics at a fraction of the cost of current alternatives. Initial results indicate that even PFAS particles are partially captured. This opens the door to even broader environmental protection. In the Netherlands, all sludge from sewage treatment plants is incinerated, which also eliminates these microplastics.

“ICABUS isn’t just a cellulose recovery system. It’s a passive, powerful barrier against microplastic pollution in our agricultural land,” says Frans Durieux in his pitch.

Curious about the film? Watch it here:

With ICABUS, we’re taking a major step towards cleaner water, healthier soil, and a circular future. The award at the Northumbrian Innovation Festival is wonderful confirmation that we’re on the right track.