Oxford-based advanced materials startup A&B Smart Materials has secured £1.5 million in pre-seed capital to accelerate the development of fully biodegradable alternatives to fossil-based superabsorbent polymers (SAPs). The round was led by existing investor Sake Bosch, with new strategic investors Caesar and Living Hope VC, alongside participation from Archipelago Ventures, Triple Impact Ventures, Cranfield University Seed Fund, Oxford Seed Fund, and business angels from Cambridge Capital Group and Oxford Innovation Finance.
An Invisible but Widespread Environmental Problem
Superabsorbent polymers are essential yet largely unseen components of everyday products such as disposable nappies and menstrual hygiene products. Beyond hygiene, SAPs are widely used in agriculture to improve soil water retention, as well as in medical products, construction materials, consumer goods and water treatment.
A Growing Market with a Sustainability Gap
The global SAP market continues to expand, driven primarily by rising demand for hygiene products, particularly in emerging markets. However, nearly all SAPs currently in use are synthetic polymers derived from fossil sources and are not biodegradable. As a result, they persist in the environment for years, contributing to waste accumulation and microplastic pollution, especially through high-volume single-use products like disposable diapers.
Redesigning SAPs from Natural Feedstocks
A&B Smart Materials is addressing the issue at the material level. The company is developing fully biodegradable superabsorbent polymers designed to match the performance characteristics of conventional SAPs while eliminating their long-term environmental footprint. Its technology is based on modified biopolymers derived from widely available, low-cost natural feedstocks rather than petroleum-based inputs.
Designed for Existing Manufacturing Lines
A core element of the company’s strategy is compatibility with current manufacturing processes. By designing materials that can be integrated into existing production lines for hygiene and agricultural products, A&B Smart Materials aims to remove a major barrier to adoption for large manufacturers, avoiding the need for costly retooling.
Replacing, Not Compromising, Performance
Dr. Benjamin White, co-founder and CTO of A&B Smart Materials, said the durability of synthetic SAPs becomes a serious problem once products enter the waste stream. “These materials lead to very long-lasting pollution, including microplastics in nature,” he said. “We intend to completely replace them with biocompatible and biodegradable alternatives without compromising performance or affordability.”
Accelerating R&D and Industrial Validation
The newly raised capital will primarily be used to accelerate research and development, focusing on refining sustainable SAP formulations. Key objectives include balancing absorption capacity, mechanical stability, biodegradation rate and cost competitiveness. The funding will also support industrial-scale validation, particularly in hygiene and agricultural applications where performance demands and volumes are highest.
Scaling Production and Regulatory Readiness
In parallel, the company is working to demonstrate that its materials can be produced reliably at scale and meet regulatory and safety requirements for consumer-facing applications. Early validation in these areas is seen as essential for engaging with large manufacturers and global brands.
Targeting a $17B Market Opportunity
A&B Smart Materials’ longer-term ambition is to help transform a global SAP market projected to reach approximately $17 billion by 2035. By offering a biodegradable, drop-in replacement for fossil-based SAPs, the company is positioning itself at the intersection of advanced materials science, sustainability and circular economy innovation.
Rethinking a Critical Component of Hygiene Products
As consumer goods companies face mounting pressure to reduce plastic waste and improve the environmental footprint of everyday products, technologies like those developed by A&B Smart Materials could play a pivotal role in reshaping one of the hygiene industry’s most essential—but least visible—components.