Planet Smart Raises $1 Million Pre‑Seed to Commercialize Biodegradable Superabsorbent Polymer for Hygiene Products
Planet Smart, a London‑based biomaterials startup, has successfully raised $1 million in pre‑seed funding to advance its mission of replacing fossil‑based plastics in disposable hygiene products with fully biodegradable alternatives. The funding marks a major milestone in the company’s transition from scientific research to commercial development and supports its broader goal of tackling global plastic pollution through innovative material science.
Founded in 2023 by Dr. Gerald Marin and Maurice Rüttimann, Planet Smart is focused on developing PlanetSorb, a naturally biodegradable superabsorbent polymer (SAP) designed to replace the traditional fossil‑derived plastics used inside disposable nappies, sanitary pads, and similar products. PlanetSorb is engineered to biodegrade naturally within six months without leaving microplastics behind, addressing one of the most persistent environmental challenges in the hygiene sector.
The $1 million pre‑seed round was led by General Inception and Vertical Venture Partners, two investors with strong track records in backing deep‑tech and sustainability‑focused startups. In addition to those lead investors, the round received backing from Innovate UK, the UK’s national innovation agency that supports high‑potential technology ventures, and the Undaunted Accelerator, a programme designed to help early‑stage founders scale bold ideas.
Planet Smart plans to use the newly secured capital to scale research and development efforts at its White City laboratory in London, expand its technical team, and begin commercial trials with global hygiene manufacturers. This next phase of development is critical to moving PlanetSorb from prototype to real‑world applications, integrating biodegradable SAPs into consumer products currently dominated by plastic materials.
PlanetSorb’s performance claims are notable: the material reportedly absorbs more than one litre of liquid per gram — up to twice the capacity of many conventional SAPs — while maintaining cost competitiveness. Because less material is required to achieve the same performance, hygiene product manufacturers could potentially produce thinner, more comfortable products that are also more sustainable.
The environmental implications of Planet Smart’s technology are significant. Disposable hygiene products constitute a major source of microplastic pollution worldwide, with an estimated half a million nappies and pads discarded every minute. Traditional SAPs used in these products can persist for centuries in the environment, contributing to the global plastics crisis and regulatory pressures such as the EU ban on intentionally added microplastics. By contrast, PlanetSorb’s biodegradable formulation aims to break down in soil or landfill without releasing harmful residuals.
Planet Smart has already begun to demonstrate early commercial traction: the company has signed three letters of intent with leading hygiene manufacturers and received two purchase orders from European brands for pilot applications of PlanetSorb. These early partnerships reflect growing industry interest in sustainable alternatives that not only meet environmental goals but also match or exceed existing product performance standards.
While Planet Smart’s immediate focus remains on the hygiene product sector, its biodegradable superabsorbent technology may have broader applications across multiple industries. Potential future use cases include agriculture, wound care, food packaging, and mining waste management — any context where absorbent materials play a key role and microplastic pollution is a concern.
Looking ahead, the company aims to significantly scale production capacity. With the support of this pre‑seed funding, Planet Smart is targeting an output of one kilotonne of PlanetSorb annually by 2028 — roughly equivalent to the absorbent polymer content in 45 million nappies’ worth of material. Achieving this production milestone will be a key step toward demonstrating commercial viability at scale and attracting further investment.
Planet Smart’s founders have emphasized that sustainability and performance do not need to be mutually exclusive. Dr. Marin has stated that the company’s goal is to create materials that are both environmentally friendly and commercially practical, eliminating the guilt associated with disposable products while providing performance that meets industry expectations.
The success of this pre‑seed round also reflects broader investor enthusiasm for cleantech and circular economy solutions, particularly startups that address hard‑to‑solve waste streams with scientifically grounded innovations. As Planet Smart moves forward with commercialisation and partnership development, the company is poised to play a meaningful role in reshaping how everyday products are manufactured and disposed of, offering a sustainable alternative to plastics in a market that has historically been resistant to change.
