WEST LAFAYETTE, INDIANA (RFD NEWS) — A soy-based adhesive tape has won the $20,000 grand prize in an annual innovation competition. The product, called “Soy-Seal,” was developed by a team of Purdue University students.
Purdue University students Jocelyn Erickson, Elizabeth Heckaman, and Kasey Wright joined us on Wednesday’s Market Day Report to discuss how the idea for the soy-based adhesive tape originated.
“Coming up with anything that has never been done before in the entire world is definitely not an easy feat, and so we found that tape had actually never been made with primarily soy-based ingredients, so that was kind of the ideation behind it.” Erickson explained.
In their conversation with RFD News, the team also explained the process behind crafting the final product.
Heckaman walked through the product’s design and development, saying the adhesive took the longest to perfect, with around 15 different versions before landing on the final formula. The team also developed a durable backing designed to resemble traditional plastic tape.
Wright added that winning the competition was a rewarding moment for the team after all their work.
The team says Soy-Seal could help reduce microplastic accumulation while also supporting Indiana’s soybean industry, and plans to use the prize money to continue developing the product.
