Novel Approaches to Handling Microplastic-Containing Waste from Building Care Products

OVERVIEW

Diversey (a Solenis Company), the Seeker for this Innocentive Challenge, is looking for novel approaches to reduce the potential for microplastic compounds to be released into the environment as a waste of building care products.

In recent years, microplastics, tiny plastic particles of less than 5 millimeters in size, have emerged as a formidable environmental concern.

First, microplastics may accumulate in the environment, causing harm and potentially disrupting ecosystems. Second, preliminary data suggest that microplastic ingestion may have negative effects on human health.

To deal with this emerging environmental threat, it’s imperative to closely monitor the routes microplastics enter ecosystems and develop effective barriers to this entry.

Building care products, such as hard floor finishes, contain potential sources of microplastics. The objective of this Challenge is to find novel approaches to minimizing the potential for microplastics to be released into the environment during the process of the finish removal.

Do you have any questions or need assistance? Feel free to join us in our Challenge Space! If you're interested in learning more about the Evaluators' requirements for this Challenge, we invite you to participate in our upcoming webinar.

Your IP Rights are protected in this Prize Challenge; Diversey must pay you an award to obtain them.

The best solution has the opportunity to win the award of $10,000 for meeting all solution requirements. The Challenge requires a written proposal to be submitted, and Awards will be contingent upon the theoretical evaluation of your proposal by Diversey against the Solution Requirements.

To receive an Award, Solvers are required to grant non-exclusive license rights to the Intellectual Property (IP) in their proposed solution. Solvers will retain all rights to any proposal not Awarded and there is no assignment.

Submissions to this Challenge must be received by 11:59 PM (US Eastern Time) on February 9th, 2026.

Please review the later Participation Guidance section before submitting a proposal.

- Login or register your interest to start solving!

ABOUT THE SEEKER & ELIGIBILITY

Solenis is a leader in water and hygiene solutions, partnering with our customers to improve the environment and make the world safer. As a trusted partner, we deliver value by solving sustainability and operational challenges with the right people, the right experience and the right technology. Our solutions help conserve natural resources and promote cleaner and safer environments. For more than 100 years, customers have trusted us to deliver value-driven, tailor-made solutions, advanced insights, measurable results and service that is second to none. We hope that you will join us on this journey by taking part in this Innocentive Challenge.

Employees of Solenis, their family members and company affiliates are ineligible to receive an award for this Challenge.

THE CHALLENGE

Background

In recent years, microplastics, tiny plastic particles of less than 5 millimeters in size, have emerged as a formidable environmental concern.

First, persisting in the environment and accumulating in waterways and oceans, microplastics can be ingested by wildlife, causing harm and potentially disrupting ecosystems. Second, although the long-term effects of microplastic ingestion on human health are still being studied, there are concerns that microplastics can damage the hormone system, cause inflammation, or even lead to some cancers.

To deal with this emerging environmental threat, it’s imperative to closely monitor the routes microplastics enter ecosystems and develop effective barriers to this entry.

One of the known ways for microplastics to enter the environment is through waste from products containing microplastics. It is also possible for products containing plastics to form microplastics through their wear, becoming a source of microplastics.

For example, plastic-containing finishes are used to treat hard floors inside homes. A typical floor finish is composed of the following components:

• Acrylic emulsion polymer (50%, w/w), which forms the main film-laying component and provides durability and protection to the surface.
• Polyethylene wax emulsion (4-5%, w/w). This polymer is added to increase protection against wear and tear.
• Coalescent package (8-10%, v/w) that includes plasticizers that do not evaporate and are considered a part of the solids of the film and glycol ether solvents that evaporate during drying.
• Additives (<1%, w/w), such as wetting agents, defoamers, preservatives, etc.

Two components of the finish, acrylic emulsion polymer and polyethylene wax emulsion, are potential sources of microplastics.

Periodically, these finishes need to be removed before applying new ones. The removal procedure typically consists of the following steps:

1. A chemical stripper is applied to emulsify the finish.
2. Auto scrubber or floor machine with an appropriate stripping pad is used to remove finish from flooring.
3. Waste is recovered in the auto scrubber and typically disposed of down a drain into the municipal wastewater system.

The Challenge

The purpose of this Challenge is to find novel approaches to minimizing the potential for microplastics to be released into the environment during the process of the finish removal.

We envision a novel process of finish removal to be developed that would allow the potential for released microplastics to be reduced by at least 50% and, ideally, by 70% (determined by a mass balance of what has been laid down vs what is captured on removal in testing, assuming everything that isn’t captured is the measure of potential breakdown to become microplastics). Naturally, the proposed process should be easy to implement without using expensive and bulky equipment beyond current, standard floor care equipment such as an auto scrubber, floor machine and floor pads. We also expect the proposed process to be applicable at both small sites and at large facilities.

SOLUTION REQUIREMENTS

We’re open to any innovative approach, as long as the proposed process meets the following Solution Requirements:

1. The proposed process will reduce the potential source of microplastics during the process of floor finish removal by at least 50% and, ideally, by 70%.
2. The proposed process itself will be environmentally friendly and safe for the operator.
3. The proposed process should be designed to be carried out by local facility management teams or similar (i.e., fit into the current value chain and not require specialist expertise or significant training).
4. The proposed process should not use expensive and bulky equipment that prohibits a site from owning (or leasing) and storing the required equipment.
5. The proposed solution can be focused on modifying equipment that could aid in microplastic reduction.
6. We also expect the proposed process to be applicable at both individual small sites level and high-volume industrial scale at large facilities.
7. The proposed solution working in synergy with the solution from the Challenge “Replacing Potential Sources of Microplastics in Building Care Product Formulations” will score higher.

Important! We’re looking for technological approaches that, ideally, are derived from commercially available components. Solvers are therefore encouraged not only to describe their proposed processes but also to list the providers of the proposed technologies and/or sources of commercially available equipment. Solutions providing such information will be given special consideration.

At the same time, we’re not going to accept solutions that:

• Make use of dangerous chemicals.
• Cost substantially more (20%+) and are substantially bulkier than the currently used equipment.

Solutions with Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) 3-5 are invited.

This Prize Challenge has the following features:

1. Your IP Rights are protected; Diversey must pay you an award to obtain them.
2. The best solution has the opportunity to win the award of $10,000 for meeting all solution requirements. 
3. The Challenge requires a written proposal to be submitted, and Awards will be contingent upon the theoretical evaluation of your proposal by Diversey against the Solution Requirements.
4. To receive an Award, Solvers are required to grant non-exclusive license rights to the Intellectual Property (IP) in their proposed solution.
5. Solvers will retain all rights to any proposal not Awarded and there is no assignment.
6. Diversey may issue “Honourable Mention” recognitions for notable submissions that are not selected for monetary awards.
7. Diversey may wish to partner with the Solver at the conclusion of the Challenge. Please indicate your interest in partnering.

YOUR SUBMISSION

Please log in and register your interest, to complete the submission form.

The submitted proposals must be written in English and can include:

1. Participation type – you will first be asked to inform us how you are participating in this challenge, as a Solver (Individual) or Solver (Organization).
2. Solution Level - the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of your solution.
3. Partnering - there may be an opportunity to partner at the conclusion of this Challenge. Please indicate if partnering is of interest to you.
4. Problem & Opportunity - highlight the innovation in your approach to the Problem, its point of difference, and the specific advantages/benefits this brings (up to 500 words).
5. Solution Overview - detail the features of your solution and how they address the SOLUTION REQUIREMENTS, and include technology providers (500 words, there is space to add more in the summary field, and attach supporting data, diagrams, etc.).
6. Solution Feasibility – Supporting Information and Rationale, such as references and precedents, that will help Diversey evaluate and validate the feasibility of the solution (up to 500 words).
7. Experience - Expertise, use cases and skills you or your organization have in relation to your proposed solution (up to 500 words).
8. Solution Risks - any risks you see with your solution and how you would plan for this (up to 500 words).
9. Timeline, capability, and costs - describe what you think is required to deliver the solution, estimated time and cost (up to 500 words).
10. Online References - provide links to any publications, articles or press releases of relevance (up to 500 words).

PARTICIPATION GUIDANCE

1. Submission Close Date: Submissions to this Challenge must be received by 11:59 PM (US Eastern Time) on February 9th, 2026.
2. Late submissions: Late submissions will not be considered.
3. Multiple submissions, 3 Maximum: In case of multiple submissions by the same Solver, only 3 submissions – the final 3 submitted – will be considered. Any other submissions will be deleted prior to evaluation.
4. Submission form and attachments: Your submission will be evaluated by the evaluation team first reviewing the information and content you have submitted at the submission form, with attachments used as additional context to your form submission. Submissions relying solely on attachments will receive less attention from the evaluation team.
5. Evaluation notification steps: After the Challenge submission close date, Diversey will review and select the winning ideas/solutions according to the timeline in the Challenge header. Everyone who submits a proposal will be notified about the status of their submissions.
6. Use of AI: Please note that any submissions produced solely with generative AI are not of interest.
7. Learn more: Find out more about participation in Innocentive Challenges.