In Colombia, where 99.3% of the population breathes air exceeding World Health Organization safety limits, a 27-year-old entrepreneur has developed a technology that does more than filter pollution—it turns it into something useful. Mariana Pérez, founder of the startup Ecol-Air, has created a system that captures carbon dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and sulphur dioxide and converts them into biodegradable polymers. Her innovation has earned her a place among the top ten finalists for the European Patent Office's (EPO) Young Inventors Prize 2025.
Pérez's device draws inspiration from human lungs. It uses artificial “bronchioles” and “alveoli” to absorb pollutants from the air, a departure from conventional carbon-capture systems that typically focus only on CO₂. “My invention is just like a giant vacuum that captures a volume of air and puts it through this system and breaks down all the contaminants into a tank,” she explains. Installed on industrial chimneys or as standalone purification stations, the machine processes toxins into raw materials that can be turned into sustainable packaging, tiles, or bags.
“We can transform the pollutants and contaminants into raw materials that can be used,” says Pérez. “I decided to create this machine because people ignore that air is as important as water.”
From Childhood Curiosity to Industrial Impact
Pérez's interest in air quality began at age eight, when she watched rain wash black residue off her father's car. That curiosity led her to participate in school science fairs and develop early prototypes of what would become Ecol-Air. “There were moments in my journey when I doubted myself,” she admits. “But I believe all scientists need to realise that, while we can create incredible solutions for the planet, health and people, scaling our projects and turning them into businesses is what gives our inventions a real future. We can't stop at just having an idea; we need to develop it further.”
Facing initial scepticism from manufacturers, Pérez offered to install her units for free in large factories to prove their effectiveness. Sumicol became the first commercial adopter, followed by Incolmotos Yamaha. In 2021, the first air treatment plant using her technology opened in Girardota, processing 70 tonnes of air daily with an 82% efficiency rate, according to company data.
Now based in New York, Pérez is preparing for global expansion. “Right now I'm focused on a global expansion because all the world needs to purify air,” she says. “We are focused on trying to put our machine in large industries. Our invention is in the Commercial Readiness Level 9 stage, meaning that it is fully functional, fully operative and, of course, tested, and ready to be adopted by the market.”
Her work directly addresses multiple UN Sustainable Development Goals, including SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG 13 (Climate Action). As one of the EPO's 2025 Tomorrow Shapers, Pérez is helping reshape how we think about pollution: not just as a problem to contain, but as a resource to transform. The EPO's recognition highlights the growing importance of innovations that can be scaled across borders—a lesson that European policymakers and businesses, already grappling with air quality issues in cities like Paris, Berlin, and Warsaw, may find particularly relevant. For a continent increasingly focused on circular economies and cost-saving healthcare solutions, Pérez's approach offers a tangible model for turning environmental liabilities into economic assets.
