Every parent knows diapers are messy business—but beyond the daily task of changing them lies a larger problem: disposable diapers are a massive contributor to landfill waste. Now, one company has developed a radical solution—a diaper that digests itself.
HIRO Technologies, a sustainability-focused startup, has unveiled the HIRO MycoDigestible Diaper, a groundbreaking product designed to tackle one of parenting’s most environmentally harmful necessities. Each diaper comes with a packet of plastic-eating mycelium fungi, which breaks down the materials in the diaper after it’s thrown away—turning waste into enriched soil rather than long-lasting pollution.
How It Works: Before disposal, parents simply insert the included fungi packet into the diaper, tape it up, and toss it in the trash. Once in the landfill, the fungi begin breaking down the diaper’s components, accelerating decomposition and reducing environmental impact.
The problem this innovation addresses is staggering: the World Economic Forum reports that more than 300,000 diapers are disposed of every minute, and the EPA estimates that each diaper can take up to 500 years to decompose.
“We asked ourselves, ‘What if the diaper could eat itself away?’” said Tero Isokauppila, co-founder of HIRO Technologies. “The response has been electric. People are hungry for real solutions, and this one hits home—both literally and globally.”
While still in its early stages, the product is currently available through a $35-per-week subscription, which includes a weekly supply of diapers, wipes, and fungi packets. HIRO Technologies hopes to bring the product to retail shelves in the near future.
But the company’s ambitions don’t stop at diapers.
“If we can break down a diaper, we can break down anything,” Isokauppila said. “We want to partner with other brands and scale this technology worldwide.”
For now, environmentally conscious parents are finding other ways to reduce their household waste. Many opt for washable cloth diapers, reusable wipes, and multi-use baby gear—like high chairs that convert to stools or strollers that become car seats. These small steps can make a big difference in a family’s environmental footprint.
The Bottom Line: As the diaper dilemma piles up—literally—HIRO’s fungi-powered innovation offers a promising new path forward. It’s a small change in parenting, but one that could have a huge impact on the planet future generations will inherit.
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