Eduardo Urzúa Fernández, director of University Entrepreneurship (UNAM), is leading an innovative project called 'Sargapanel'. This initiative, which recently won the BBVA National Sustainability Challenge 'Together for the Mexican Caribbean', aims to offer a sustainable solution to the sargassum issue plaguing the country's coasts.
The 'Sargapanel' project, developed by the UNAM-TEC Consortium, is designed to tackle the environmental problem of sargassum. It promotes the circular economy by utilizing non-toxic and recyclable materials.
A key feature of Sargapanel is its use of sargassum harvested from the open sea. This is processed to remove metals and contaminants, allowing it to be incorporated into a gypsum panel. The resulting product is not only cost-effective but also boasts fire retardant properties, bending resistance, and thermal insulation capacity, making it a competitive and sustainable option.
Furthermore, the Sargapanel project has paved the way for the production of other products such as paper and cardboard, creating new opportunities for waste valuation. The technology developed aims not only to address the sargassum problem but also to generate additional solutions that positively impact various industries.
The licensing of this technology will enable its transfer to interested companies, thereby contributing to the circular economy and sustainable development. Sargapanel is turning what was once considered a problem into a valuable resource, demonstrating how innovation can transform environmental challenges into sustainable opportunities.
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