The Wonder Sponge
A sponge that does it all!
Ashley Weil and Collette Ward
Why sponges?
1. Practical Applications of Nonwovens in Household Options
a. Sponges are used every day by many people, and rapidly purchased then disposed
b. They have not changed drastically in structure and material over the years
c. They are in need of new improvement
A Brief History of Sponges
● The sponges we use today are replicas of the natural ones humans have harvested for centuries.
● The first known modern sponge was created by Du Pont in 1952, which was produced by General Mills.
Common Issues with the Household Dish Sponge
Longevity
Foodborne Pathogens
Microplastics
Environmental Impacts
Generic Dish Sponge Structure and Materials:
● Tends to be either cellulose or polyurethane.
● Cellulose is bacteria-ridden, polyurethane is detrimental for the environment
Our Proposed Structure + Materials
● Multilayered
● 1st layer: wood-based scrubby layer, for scouring
● 2nd layer: airlaid fabric, cellulose fiber, for absorbency
● 3rd layer: thin layer of spunbond cellulose fabric, coated with antibacterial copper
Market Competition
Competitor A
Competitor B
Market Competition (Cont.)
Competitor C
Competitor D
Market Competition (Cont.)
Competitor E
Ours
Production Methods
Recycled post consumer waste- clothing
Copper layer
Sustainability
Conclusion
References