
This provides a detailed case study of Airee, a Mongolian startup that developed an air purifier utilizing waste wool, which was previously considered low-value and often discarded.
It highlights the severe air pollution crisis in Ulaanbaatar, particularly in the poorer "Ger districts," where Airee's low-cost, high-performance product meets an urgent need for affordable health protection. The core innovation lies in re-evaluating Mongolian sheep wool's properties, recognizing that its seemingly coarse texture and natural static charge, which made it unsuitable for clothing, make it an ideal, biodegradable material for air filters.
This business model exemplifies the "Sanpo Yoshi" philosophy (good for three parties), ensuring that buyers receive affordable health solutions, Airee sustains its growth, and nomadic herders gain a stable income from their wool, thus creating a sustainable economic and environmental ecosystem from a neglected resource.