A&B Smart Materials reinvents superabsorbent polymers with green tech

It’s no secret that sanitary pads, disposable nappies and agricultural water-retention products rely on superabsorbent polymers – but what most people don’t realise is that these polymers are made from fossil fuels and take centuries to break down. 

Co-founded by chemist Benjamin White and his team, A&B Smart Materials is tackling these sources of microplastic pollution and the harm they cause to both the planet and human health. How? By developing fully bio-renewable alternatives that match the performance and price of current plastic-based polymers.

Even better, their materials can be programmed to degrade after use – without releasing toxins – and can be manufactured on existing production lines with minimal changes.

Regulation is pushing the industry to clean up, and licensing – not manufacturing – could be the key to rapid adoption at scale. Listen in to find out more about the science behind A&B’s breakthrough in this founder interview with SeedLegals CEO Anthony Rose.

Key takeaways

The problem with absorbent plastics

• Superabsorbent polymers are used in everyday products like nappies, sanitary pads, and agricultural tools – but they’re made from fossil fuels and don’t biodegrade.
• These plastics contribute to serious environmental issues, clogging infrastructure and leaching harmful microplastics into soil, water and human bodies.
• Despite their environmental cost, industries continue using them because they’re effective and affordable, especially since few sustainable alternatives are available at scale.

A&B Smart Materials’ solution

• A&B Smart Materials has created a biodegradable, bio-renewable alternative that performs just as well as conventional polymers, at the same price point.
• Their materials can be designed to degrade after a specific time frame, from 10 minutes to several months with no toxic byproducts.
• Designed to slot into existing production lines, A&B’s product removes the friction for manufacturers wanting to switch to safer, greener materials.

Traction and growth

• Benjamin White and co-founder Amaury van Trappen de Buggenoms lead a growing team of scientists and commercial experts based at Begbroke Science Park in Oxford.
• The company is filing patents, refining its cost-efficiency and preparing to license its technology to manufacturers like P&G and Unilever.
• With upcoming EU regulations set to ban microplastic-producing products by 2028, A&B is positioned to become the go-to solution for sustainable absorbent materials.