PROJECTS

The Better Body Bag

Setting new standards in identifying victims of natural disasters and armed conflict

Identifying victims after natural disasters is a challenge. Failing to do so drives cost up and brings distress, trauma and frustration. If we fail, a person is lost forever. Together with forensic experts from the International Committee of the Red Cross we have developed a better solution. It improves the chances of giving victims of natural disasters their identity back.

Improved victim identification

Our primary goal is to protect the identity of the victim and ensure closure for the families. This is done by delaying decomposition and improving visual identification.

Vacuum-able via airtight and watertight seal
Temperature regulation
Fluid management

CC BY-NC-ND/ICRC/M. Mejía

CC BY-NC-ND/ICRC

Improved conditions for fieldworkers

Additionally, the bag improves the working conditions of humanitarian actors and helpers that manage the dead after catastrophes or armed conflicts.

Containment of odours and liquids
30% lighter than current standard bodybags
Puncture and tear resistant

In terms of body bags, recovery and retrieval of dead bodies not much has advanced in decades. It is actually probably the first time humans have thought of applying new technologies to this issue in a major way. I would like to congratulate you because you will make a big difference to a lot of people

Robin Coupland,
International Committee of the Red Cross

A brief timeline of our project

March 2019
Presented at Open Geneva Solutions Forum
June 2018
Presented at Tech4Dev 2018
December 2017Awarded a CHF 200.000 grant from HIF (UK) to scale to production
We are currently improving our current model and scaling up production. The goal is to ultimately produce 10.000 bags which will be directly tested in the field by our partners.
October 2017
Presentation at Red Cross Red Crescent Forum (RC2) Istanbul
August 2017
Poster presentation at IAFS Toronto
February 2017Produced 130 prototype bags
Our first major milestone was the production of 130 bags for scientific testing by ICRC forensics and independent partners.
October 2016
Won an award at the GoodFestival
June 2016
Awarded "Top 25 Swiss Startup Ideas" by >>venture>>
May 2016
Participant at ICRC Global Forensic Advisory Board
2016 Presentations
Presented at Impact Hub Geneva, TEDx Lausanne, World Humanitarian Summit, Tech4Dev, 31st Human Right Council, Geneva Health Forum, Humanitarian Network and Partnership Week and ICHEP Chicago
November 2015
Presented at ICRC's Managing the Dead event
October 2015Signed ICRC R&D Agreement
Following SSRA's proposal for a Better Body Bag the Innovation Initiative from the International Committee of the Red Cross decided to support a longer R&D project
June 2015
Initial concept presented at United Nations ECOSOC with THE Port
May 2015
Participant at ICRC Global Forensic Advisory Board
November 2014
Presented at InspiredRED Days - ICRC Innovation Event
November 2014THE Port Hackathon
The project began as a technical challenge proposed during the first THE Port Hackathon at CERN.