December 25, 2024

Soy-based baby wipes win Student Soybean Innovation Competition

By Erica Quinlan
Indiana Soybean Alliance Sustainability and Value Creation Committee Chair Jenna Scott (from left), a farmer from Muncie, Indiana, poses with Student Soybean Innovation Competition winners Kyle Han of Taipei, Taiwan, and Ben Gottlieb of Chappaqua, New York, and ISA Board Chair Kevin Cox, who is a farmer from Brazil, Indiana. Han and Gottlieb invented SoySilk, biodegradable baby wipes that are thicker than the average baby wipes already on the market.

Indiana Soybean Alliance Sustainability and Value Creation Committee Chair Jenna Scott (from left), a farmer from Muncie, Indiana, poses with Student Soybean Innovation Competition winners Kyle Han of Taipei, Taiwan, and Ben Gottlieb of Chappaqua, New York, and ISA Board Chair Kevin Cox, who is a farmer from Brazil, Indiana. Han and Gottlieb invented SoySilk, biodegradable baby wipes that are thicker than the average baby wipes already on the market. (Indiana Soybean Alliance photo)

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Two students at Purdue University earned $20,000 for their soy-based baby wipes creation at the 30th annual Student Soybean Innovation Competition.

Junior Kyle Han from Taipei, Taiwan, and freshman Ben Gottlieb from Chappaqua, New York, designed SoySilk baby wipes using soybean ingredients every step of production — starting with the base sheet and ending with the final formulation.

“Our product’s mission is to provide a top-tier customer experience in baby wipes while creating positive environmental effects,” Gottlieb said.

“Most importantly, SoySilk will pave a new path for wet wipe materials as countries pass new regulations to prohibit the plastic polymers contained in current baby wipes.

“Our product introduces an innovative business opportunity in a high-value market with an enormous volume of soy for our high-quality Indiana soybean industry to profit and create a positive impact on our planet.”

Selling Points

SoySilk is:

• Sensitive skin friendly

• Plastic-free

• Vegan

• Non-toxic

• Biodegradable and compostable alternative to conventional baby wipes

“Global consumer-goods manufacturing companies like Proctor & Gamble and Kimberly-Clark have been trying to develop a new material for their Pampers and Huggies baby wipes pipeline without plastic polymers but still strong,” Han explained.

“Many companies believe that with the sustainability trend, the European Union and the United States will soon catch up on banning wet wipes that contain plastic.

“Our team is providing a new alternative with SoySilk baby wipes to tackle the ban and influence the business for the U.S. market.”

SoySilk was one of 15 teams that competed in the competition.

Team SoyBox came in second place, winning $10,000 for their soy-based thermoplastic starch that can be used to manufacture cartons that can hold liquid. Students Laurian Lien, a sophomore, and Lewis Polansky, a freshman, created the product.

Team Green Eggs No Ham! Finished third, winning $5,000 for their egg substitute made with multiple ingredients derived from soy. Students Alekhya Ankaraju, Amanda Wolf, Chris Mechalke and Will Meyer created the product.

The People’s Choice award went to Team InsectiSoy, who discovered a way to create an insect perimeter that is safe for families and pets. Charles Sebright, Josh Stephenson and Sarah Juffer created the product.

Visit bit.ly/soycompetition for more details on ISA’s investment in soybean innovation.

About The Competition

The Student Soybean Innovation Competition is sponsored by the Indiana Soybean Alliance and Purdue. To win this competition, Purdue students must develop novel applications for soybeans that satisfy a market need.

“ISA looks forward to working with Purdue students each year and seeing what unique products they create,” said ISA Board Chair Kevin Cox, a farmer from Brazil in south-central Indiana. “The goal of this competition is to showcase the versatility of soybeans while addressing a need in agriculture or the general public.

“The results often expand opportunities and markets for all Indiana soybean growers. We are excited about SoySilk. This appears to be a safe and necessary product that we think will be attractive to many people.”

Indiana Soybean AlliancePurdue UniversityScienceSoybeans
Erica Quinlan

Erica Quinlan

Field Editor