An alternative to plastic packaging using nanostructured Philippine indigenous plants made history at the Top Ten Innovators (TTI) in Shell liveWIRE (SLW) global awards after winning the Grand Prize in Business Innovation.
Philippine-based clean technology startup Nanotronics won one of the 3 major Grand Prize awards in the 2022 edition of the global awards, marking a historic first win for the country in the 40-year history of TTI-SLW.
Nanotronics stood out from among 203 entries coming from 22 countries and will be provided opportunities to have access to the global market and one-year mentoring support from SLW to develop its production of the biobased and biodegradable plastic that is stronger than regular paper and intended as an alternative for single-use plastic.
Dr. Jerome Palaganas, co-founder and CEO of Nanotronics Inc., won the title of 2022 Top Ten Innovators Champion in Business Innovation with the sustainable material solutions for packaging application, besting finalists fellow Filipino Don Pansacola of NextPay and Heineken Anak Laluan of Malaysia.
Filipino startup Nanotronics' Dr. Jerome Palaganas wins Top Business Innovation award from @LiveWIREIntl FULL STORY on @GoodNewsPinas_ https://t.co/XIAKnsQvPI
— Angie Quadra-Balibay (@AngieQBalibay) November 24, 2022
Another Filipino innovation, Henry James Sison’s Agro-Digital PH, made it to the finals for the Social Impact category in the Top Ten Innovators awards announced on November 15 in Mexico City to highlight and reward impactful Shell LiveWIRE entrepreneurs who are making positive contributions toward social impact, environmental sustainability, and business innovation.
Nanotronics was also the inaugural Grand Tech Winner of SLW Philippines in 2020 besting 154 tech startups in the country.
The Philippines’ winning startup is funded by the Department of Science and Technology – Business Innovation through S&T for Industry Program (DOST-BIST).
The Nanotronics alternative to plastic packaging has the following features:
- The selected feedstock for the nanomaterial products is highly renewable as it can be grown and harvested almost yearly.
- The startup’s nanomaterial products enable mechanical strength and barrier properties on paper in packaging while maintaining the full biodegradability of the final paper-based packaging product.
- The final product can decompose at ambient temperature and without industrial intervention.
Interested Filipino companies who wish to avail of the DOST-BIST funding may send their inquiries to the Science for Change Program – Project Management Office, with office address at Department of Science and Technology 2/F ADMATEL Bldg., DOST Compound, Gen. Santos Ave., Bicutan, Taguig City, or send an email to s4c.ousecrd@dost.gov.ph
More Filipino innovations producing alternatives to plastic packaging include the calamansi-cacao rinds for food packaging developed by a UP alumna and coconut leaves basket used by vendors in Tawi-Tawi.
SEND CONGRATULATIONS AND WELL WISHES to Nanotronics for winning the Grand Prize in Business Innovation at the Top Ten Innovators Shell LiveWIRE Global Awards!
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