The invention “Innovative protective nonwovens with the addition of feathers”, developed as part of the EkoPIÓRO project, by scientists from the Łukasiewicz Research Network – Institute of Biopolymers and Chemical Fibers (IBWCh) in Łódź and the University of Agriculture in Krakow (URK) was awarded a gold medal in the Agriculture category, during Virtual Innovation Fair – E-NNOVATE.

The main goal of the project is to develop a concept of waste management methods and by-products from animal production that are desirable in terms of economy and social impact.

The composite protective nonwoven fabrics are made of wool and feathers from a poultry slaughterhouse. The non-woven fabric is intended for covering the grass mixture on difficult terrain (new dumps, heaps, railway embankments, ski slopes, etc.), where it is very difficult to obtain a good turf cover.

Non-woven fabric will facilitate the adaptation of plants in difficult areas. The non-woven fabric is biodegradable within 2-3 months. As a result of biodegradation of nonwovens fabric, nitrogen released from wool and feathers enriches the soil with nutrients.