How A Modified “Cotton Candy” Machine Makes Plastic Fibers For Insulation | World Wide Waste

Inspired by cotton candy, four friends spent more than a decade designing a machine that turns locally sourced plastic waste into thin fibers that can be used for insulation. They plan on deploying their product around the world to reduce trash and help keep even the most basic shelters warm.

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How Polyfloss Uses A Modified “Cotton Candy” Machine To Make Plastic Fibers For Insulation

[VPCh.]

It's an interesting idea, but I can't help thinking that this could be the next asbestos; especially with the growing concerns over the dangers of microplastics.
Plastic doesn't readily break down in the body and you know that they are inhaling massive amounts as they work there and handle it without PPE.

[jasikanicole]

This technology isn't new. Poly floss has been around for ages. You can find them everywhere in pillows, filter, clothes, etc. The plastic use will not be coming from landfill, which requires a lot of treatment with toxic chemicals to re-progress the plastic waste into plastic beads or something useable. If you think these company will be getting their plastic from landfill, you are sorely mistaken. This will only make more plastic in the process, or worse turn plastic into microplastic. The best solution is stop using plastic all together. All these idea trying to turn landfill plastic back into useful product, only is only recirculating the plastic around.

[Ass_of_Amalek]

rock and glass wool may be more dangerous to install, but plastic is waaaay more dangerous to live in due to the fire risk. ask the people who lived in grenfell tower about flammable insulation....

[ijustneedausername]

I think it’s an excellent concept- my only concern is making sure it’s properly contained within something so we don’t just unleash a new micro plastics hell upon ourselves. Considering current pillow stuffing and poly fill are currently sold commercially, it seems like an easy industry for recycled plastics to inhabit nicely.

[MusaMecanica]

The flamable part is not what worries me. If they scale this in places that have a lot of plastic, yes, they may reuse it but they are also creating micro-plastics that will get on everything. We are changing one kind of polution for the other. I can already see this stuff showing up in the water in poorer countries, and on their animals even more than now.

[xenogoodsworth]

Great example of flammable microplastic manufacturing 👍

[Theonekhaled]

There are reasons for using mineral/glass wool. This would be horrible in a fire🔥

[jkfdkjjd]

Im glad that micro-plastics didn't turn out to be a real thing to worry about!

[boopy]

I feel like it becomes a fire concern over time. Theyre very fine which makes it soft but you don't need it to be soft to insulate a house. And it's a little worrying to me that it will start to fall apart. Fiberfill for stuffed animals slowly get more brittle over time because of temperature and washing making then thinner, but these already start thin. Wouldn't they be prone to breaking down and flying around in the air?

[cheesyfries]

This is pure genius! With the appropriate training and precaution it can even provide a source of income for people. And its one of the best ways to recycle plastics ive seen so far. There are a lot of possibilities with this product as well. I hope they continue to grow and spread to more countries.

[Poporitown]

Great new microplastics, just what our oceans and bodies need.

[gillsmoke]

Nepal doesn't "produce" plastic waste, it's a byproduct of the industrial shipping everything inside plastic. Why do we blame consumers when the producers are at fault? Besides that little nit pick a well done story that I can't wait to hear more from.

[Jaynew]

I can just imagine people digging in 500 years and sees this stuff still good as new almost.

[waskito]

This is straight up genius. There are a ton of non recyclable plastics that can be heated and stretched and made into insulation which is already too expensive as it is.

[ninqistratton]

This cant be safe to play in like they are in the beginning. Holy moly, someone protect their lungs!!!

[ComradeCatpurrnicus]

I really feel like you could design something to collect the floss better as well as save the person from potentially breathing in any fine particles in that area where it's melted and spun out.

[Citizen-of-theworld]

I would be very worried about fire and burn risks. Burning melted plastic would burn like napalm - sticky burning hydrocarbons, and probably even more toxic. Even in a fireproof cover, I would be very concerned.

[walli]

This isn't using waste. They use recycled granulate. You can make all kind of new stuff out of that.

[donniebooth]

I see this in all homes and other place also you 4 guys have did something to improve the earth hope it is the biggest thing ever for you

[ceerstar]

The fact that it's strong enough to be ironed like that, speaks for itself.