A&B Smart Materials, an Oxford-based materials science startup, has successfully closed an oversubscribed £1.5 million pre-seed round. The company is developing sustainable superabsorbent polymers (SAPs), the key materials that enable disposable diapers and sanitary products to absorb liquid and help agricultural soils retain water during dry periods.
The funds raised will primarily be used to accelerate R&D to optimise A&B’s sustainable superabsorbent polymer (SAP) formulations and achieve the ‘trifecta’ of high performance, competitive pricing and demonstration at industrial scale for hygiene and agricultural applications. A&B’s long-term goal is to replace the synthetic SAP formulation in what is expected to be a $17 billion market by 2035.
This funding round featured three principal investors: existing backer Sake Bosch, alongside new strategic investors Caesar and Living Hope VC, with additional participation from Archipelago Ventures, Triple Impact Ventures, Cranfield University Seed Fund, Oxford Seed Fund, and several leading business angels from the Cambridge Capital Group and Oxford Innovation Finance.
The global SAP market is large and rapidly expanding, with annual sales of approximately $9.1 billion, projected to reach $17.6 billion by 2035. Each year, an estimated 4.1 million tons of SAPs are produced, the vast majority of which are used in absorbent hygiene products such as nappies and menstrual pads. A smaller but growing share is used in agriculture, with additional applications across medical products, construction materials, consumer goods and water treatment.
Today’s synthetic SAPs are highly absorbent but also highly persistent. Made from fossil-based materials and designed without biodegradability in mind, they accumulate in the environment as microplastics. Over time, these materials contaminate soils, waterways and oceans, contributing to one of the world’s most pressing pollution challenges.
A&B Smart Materials aims to enable the global transition away from persistent, fossil-based superabsorbent polymers towards high-performance, fully biodegradable alternatives. By combining cutting-edge polymer science with abundant natural feedstocks, they are building the technological foundation for the next generation of absorbent materials that deliver top-tier performance and are compatible with established industry processes, while meeting accelerating regulatory, environmental and consumer demands.
A&B’s technology is built on novel modified biopolymers sourced from abundant, low-cost natural materials. Despite a small team and a short development timeline, their material is already approaching commercial performance standards in both hygiene and agricultural applications. This foundation technology already offers a competitive cost outlook, and the funding will support further optimisation of materials and manufacturing processes as they move toward industrial scale.
