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Innovation & Sustainability

A green solution for rising hygiene requirements

Most viruses, bacteria and fungi are harmless to humans. Surfaces contaminated with germs, on the other hand, can pose a health risk, especially in hospitals. Here, HeiQ has developed probiotic hygiene products that protect against pathogenic microorganisms and the development of resistance.

25.08.2021

Viruses, bacteria and fungi are present on all surfaces, as well as in water and air, so a germ-free environment is not possible or even necessary under normal circumstances. After all, most microorganisms are harmless to healthy people. Nevertheless, surfaces contaminated with germs can pose a health risk for people with pre-existing conditions and compromised immune systems.

Natural, innovative cleaning agents help to prevent resistance

Traditionally, undesirable microorganisms were killed off with antibiotics and disinfectants. These are drastic measures with far-reaching results, as they also kill useful microorganisms. This is not a solution, as it gives rise to resistance in microorganisms. The modern approach is to use the power of beneficial microorganisms to clean and colonise surfaces, thus making the beneficial organisms dominant.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the biggest threats to human health and is common in infections caused by hospitalisation. Studies have shown that probiotic cleaning and hygiene systems can drastically reduce the spread of AMR in hospitals (-70 %).

Our member from Zurich does exactly that: HeiQ Synbio products have a special cleaning effect which supports good microorganisms and ensures optimum surface hygiene. With their cleaning agents consisting of a mixture of probiotics and synbiotics – better known as bacillus bacteria – surfaces can be cleaned in a targeted and environmentally friendly manner. The HeiQ Synbio cleaning agents thus help to prevent infection and reduce multiresistance.

Efficiency, sustainability & safety

HeiQ Synbio products are certified with the EU Ecolabel and are Cradle2Cradle Gold compatible, which means that not only the 100 % natural pro- and prebiotic products, but also the entire production process are as safe and sustainable as it is possible today.

HeiQ - Your innovation partner

HeiQ was founded in 2005 as a spin-off from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH). HeiQ is a leader in textile innovation, developing some of the most effective, durable and high-performance textile technologies on the market today. With the goal of improving the lives of billions of people by perfecting an everyday product, textiles, HeiQ combines three areas of expertise - scientific research, specialty materials manufacturing and consumer branding. This makes HeiQ the ideal innovation partner to create differentiating and sustainable products and capture added value at the point of sale.


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