Source: IkeaTo curb indoor air pollution, retail giant Ikea has created a line of curtains that filter out odors and pollutants, according to reports.

In a process much like photosynthesis, Ikea’s Gunrid curtains are coated with a mineral-based photocatalyst film that filters out odors and pollutants when activated by light. According to the company, the air-purifying textiles are activated by both artificial and natural light, which means the air can be purified under virtually any conditions, including during cloudy days and at night time.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), an estimated 90% of people worldwide breathe in polluted air, much of which comes from inside the home from chemicals like volatile organic compounds (VOCs), flame retardants, perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) and antimicrobial agents including triclosan, which is an antibacterial compound found in consumer products like soap and toothpaste that has been associated with skin cancer and creating antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

“Besides enabling people to breathe better air at home, we hope that GUNRID will increase people’s awareness of indoor air pollution, inspiring behavioural changes that contribute to a world of clean air,” says Lena Pripp-Kovac, head of sustainability at Inter Ikea Group. “GUNRID is the first product to use the technology, but the development will give us opportunities for future applications on other textiles.”

Ikea envisions that the coating could one day be applied to other textiles beyond curtains. Testing on the curtains continues before they are available in Ikea stores sometime next year.