Naturbeads, the Bath firm developing biodegradable alternatives to harmful microplastics, has been named as one of the UK’s top tech innovators.
The firm, a spin-out from the University of Bath, was a finalist in this year’s Emerging Giants Tech Innovator competition run by the UK arm of global accountancy group KPMG.
The fast-growth firm, which last month secured seed funding of€1.5m (£1.28m), had already been crowned South West and Wales winner in the competition’s regional heats.
Last night it was invited to pitch to a panel of industry experts later along with 11 other regional finalists selected from almost 250 entries but missed out on the title.
KPMG’s Emerging Giants Tech Innovator contest, which champions standout tech pioneers, is now in its ninth year. Previous finalists have included Bath-founded eCommerce fulfilment company Huboo Technologies, which has become a huge success and now employs nearly 700 people in the UK and across Europe.
Naturbeads’ innovative technology replaces harmful plastic microbeads now used in a wide range of consumer and industrial products ranging from toothpaste and cosmetics to adhesives and paint with a biodegradable product made from cellulose, a naturally occurring substance that gives plants their strength and structure.
Unlike microplastics, once released into the environment as waste, the cellulose-based beads simply biodegrade into harmless sugars.
Microplastics – plastics less than five millimetres across – are increasingly entering the human food chain and particles have been found in salt, fish, beer, drinking water and, alarmingly, even in a new mother’s placenta.
Some 5.25trillion particles of miroplastic are already in the world’s oceans and it is estimated that 250,000 tonnes of microplastics from cosmetics and paints end up there every year – equivalent to 25bn plastic bottles.
KPMG South West senior partner Ian Brokenshire, pictured, said: “We had an impressive number of entries this year and our regional finalist and runner up represented the best of the tech talent from across the South West.
“We’re very excited to support the continued growth of our tech innovators who are either hidden gems in our huge tech ecosystem or leading the way in disruption and innovative thinking. Huge congratulations go to Naturbeads.”
Last month Naturbeads won the best South West manufacturing and engineering start-up title in the Start-Up Awards.
