Okos Diagnostics is a Netherlands-based MedTech company founded in 2022, focused on reducing plastic waste from single-use diagnostic tests. The company has developed and patented the world’s first fully bio-based, biodegradable cassettes for lateral flow assays (LFAs), offering a scalable, drop-in alternative to petroleum-based plastics without compromising performance or cost.
The Problem
The diagnostics industry generates approximately 25,000 tonnes of plastic waste annually, largely from single-use rapid tests that contain 12–15 grams of plastic per test. As decentralised healthcare and at-home testing continue to expand, this environmental burden is growing alongside market demand.
Okos’ Solution
Okos’ biodegradable LFA cassettes are:
-100% plant-based and compostable
-Patent pending in EU and US
-Drop-in replacements requiring no changes to existing test technology
-Up to 49% lower in lifecycle CO₂ emissions
-Free from microplastic generation
-Published data on real-world biodegradation in Frontiers
