Magic Erasers are widely used for tough cleaning, but the melamine-formaldehyde foam they rely on sheds millions of microplastic particles during use—introducing persistent plastics and toxic chemicals into homes and the environment. This project challenged the team to design a safer alternative cleaning sponge that preserves the Magic Eraser’s powerful nanoscale scrubbing mechanism while...
Laundry detergent bottles are typically made from plastics like HDPE and PET—materials chosen for their durability and barrier properties, but also responsible for persistent microplastic pollution and chemical hazards. In this project, the team set out to rethink detergent packaging from the ground up by asking a simple question: Can a container perform like plastic without relying on it?
This project provides recommendations for finding safer preservatives for laundry detergent, hand soap, and dish soap, aiming to replace phenoxyethanol. It looks for alternatives that are just as effective, or even better, but with fewer health and environmental risks....
In partnership with the International Association of Firefighters, this team examined safer alternatives to halogenated flame retardants used in firefighter stationwear.
