What is the challenge? 

Current safety equipment used in landmine clearance has two main problems:

It's designed mainly for men's bodies, making it uncomfortable and less safe for women

When the equipment wears out, it can't be safely disposed of because it's made of plastic that is not biodegradableand there arecurrently no environmentally sustainable disposal methods ofthese materials.

What is innovative about the project? 

The solutions that will be scaled through this project are either the first of its kind in theworld, or the first of its kind in the sector. Thus far, no other entity globallyhas ever produced demining facial protection made of recycledcomposite materials that provide more protection and comfort than thestandard all-polycarbonate visors. Likewise, no other entity has producedgender-sensitive mine action aprons specifically for the mine actionsector.

While polycarbonate recycling solutions exist, these involve highly capital-intensive industrial processes. This project will scale the first set of polycarbonate recycling systems and methods which canbe locally scalable down to the artisanal level; thereby creating local jobsand removing plastic waste from circulation.

What are the expected outcomes? 

Since NPA receivedfunding from Innovation Norwayin December 2020, NPA in partnership with Rofi AS andHuman Brights AS developed the following solutions:

• Demining visors made primarily fromrecycled materials that offer increased protection, are lighter and have alonger service life than existing full-polycarbonate visors.

• Ergonomic modular demining apronsthat are moreadjustable for women’s bodies and offer similar or greater levels ofprotection.

• Methods to reprocess decommissioned polycarbonate visors into newproducts such as demining tools thatmitigate the potential for injuries. These recycling methods are locallyscalable using relatively limited equipment and unskilled labour and canpotentially be adapted to reprocess and upcycle polycarbonate into otheritems such as household goods.

The scaling phase of this project will focus onrecycling several tonnes of aramid andpolycarbonate waste globally and setting up circular economies and supplychains. The project will introduce the visors, aprons and improved tools to the mineaction sector, beginning with NPA operations, to better protecthumanitarian workers and expand the PPE to other mine actionorganisations around the world. 

Who are the project partners? 

The project is led by NPA with private sector partners ROFI and Human Brights.