Tesla exec leaves to enroll in U.K. start-up looking to fight the world’s plastic crisis

Steven Altmann-Richer, who led public coverage for U.K., Ireland, and new markets at Tesla, joined London start-up Polymateria inside a previous couple of weeks as head of public affairs and regulatory strategy, after spending three-and-a-1/2 of years on the U.S. vehicle business enterprise.

Polymeria, which has around 25 teams of workers primarily based totally out of Imperial College’s start-up incubator, has evolved a “biotransformation technology” that breaks down plastic right into a wax-like substance that then receives digested through microbes. It has additionally created a brand new British fashionable for biodegradable plastic.

“I need to assist policymakers to apprehend that that is a, in reality, progressive answer that could enhance the surroundings of the US and globally,” stated Altmann-Richer, who holds a master’s diploma in environmental coverage from Oxford University.

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The EU presently defines biodegradable plastics as those that may be composted at a commercial site. It doesn’t, however, remember plastics that degrade through themselves inside the herbal surroundings and Altmann-Richer hopes to alternate this.  

“Previous technology which has claimed to be biodegradable inside the herbal surroundings haven’t been,” stated Altmann-Richer. “They’ve left the type of microplastic beads behind, and consequently there’s been a whole lot of skepticism of that technology.”

Polymateria is basically targeted at the meals packaging enterprise as it’s miles one in all the largest purchasers of plastic that finally ends up withinside the herbal surroundings.

Manufactured in France, Polymateria’s additive provides more or less 10%-15% to the general price of packaging. It additionally provides around 1%-2% of volume.

The business enterprise, which raised a sequence A investment spherical of £15 million at a valuation of £a hundred and ten million in advance this year, has signed offers with the likes of sports clothing store Puma and plastics manufacturer Clariant.

CNBC / TechConflict.Com