Lateral flow tests were thrust into the limelight during the COVID-19 pandemic but have been vital part of diagnostics for decades, from pregnancy to plant health. Little change has been implemented to the test kits since their conception, but with the global push to minimise the environmental impact of single-use products, these kits are due an update. Partnering under the name Eco-Flo Innovations, Morrama and Abingdon Health aim to make their first plastic free, compostable cassette available to customers within the next 12 months.
Given there are over two billion lateral flow immunoassays manufactured annually and the market is set to grow from $43 billion in 2022 to $72bn by 2024, there is an increased need to consider the environmental impact of lateral flow tests. It is estimated that there are 25,000 tonnes of plastic produced globally for rapid testing every year, with an average test containing 10-15g of single use virgin plastic.
Jo Barnard, Founder and Creative Director at Morrama said, “The development of Eco-Flo represents a vital step forward in reducing the environmental impacts of lateral flow testing and we are incredibly excited to have Abingdon Health on board to accelerate this development and bring their years of expertise into the project. This could offer a simpler, more accessible, and more sustainable option, designed with people and the planet in mind.”
The brand-new plastic free cassette will be manufactured in the UK and Eco-Flo will utilise renewable plant fibre moulding technology that reduces CO2 emissions by 80% compared to the equivalent single use plastic. The initial design will look to offer a straight swap from traditional plastic cassettes, breaking down any barrier for companies looking to reduce the impact of their assays and reduce the plastic use across the full test kit by 62%. In addition, the Eco-Flo Innovations team are already exploring ways to remove or switch out the remaining plastic content in tests that require a swab or pipette.
Chris Yates, CEO of Abingdon Health plc, added: “We are delighted to be partnering with Morrama to support the development of innovative, environmentally friendlier components and packing solutions for the lateral flow industry. Alongside Jo and the team at Morrama, we are keen to lead this change and provide our customers with viable sustainable alternatives to the traditional materials currently used.”
The plastic free lateral flow test cassette has a wide range of applications and could be implemented across various sectors such as healthcare and animal health, food and plant disease testing as well as environmental testing. For more information and general enquiries, please visit: https://www.ecoflotest.com/
