Planet Smart, a London-based biomaterials startup developing a biodegradable superabsorbent polymer to replace fossil-based plastics, has raised $1m (£760,000) in a pre-seed funding round.
The startup is targeting the sanitary product market, currently rife with harmful plastic waste in products such as nappies and sanitary pads.
Planet Smart is developing its plastic alternative, called PlanetSorb, that it claims biodegrades within six months without leaving microplastics behind whilst outperforming traditional materials in absorbtion.
“We’ve shown that sustainability doesn’t have to mean sacrifice,” said Dr Gerald Marin, cofounder and chief executive of Planet Smart.
“Our material is greener, faster, and built to scale, and crucially, it simply disappears when its job is done.”
A new father himself, Marin said the mission of his company has become “deeply personal”.
Marin said: “Every parent knows the guilt of throwing away nappies. The first thing we do to babies the moment they’re born is wrap them in plastic. I want to change that by creating smarter biomaterials that my daughter won’t have to clean up in thirty years’ time.”
The funding round came from General Inception, Vertical Venture Partners, Innovate UK and Undaunted Accelerator.
“Planet Smart exemplifies the kind of high-impact, science-driven company that can move the needle on climate and waste,” said Sara Jones, vice president at General Inception. “They’re tackling a global pollution issue with genuine commercial pragmatism.”
