Agriculture and horticulture
- Soil water retainers
- Seedbed sheets
Our technology
EF Polymer is a superabsorbent polymer (SAP) that is 100 % natural in origin, made from inedible fruit waste such as orange peel.
What is a superabsorbent polymer?
A superabsorbent polymer (SAP) is a high-molecular-weight material designed to absorb and hold many times its own weight in water. Even under pressure, a SAP keeps the water it has absorbed: it can absorb, hold, gel or thicken, and release moisture gradually.
EF Polymer is a superabsorbent polymer made from upcycled fruit waste, such as orange and banana peel. Conventional SAPs are used across a huge range of sectors, but most are petroleum-derived, which raises concerns about their environmental impact.
As environmental awareness grows, so does demand for alternatives that are fully bio-based and biodegradable. Beyond its agricultural grades, EF Polymer is developing higher-absorbency grades and co-developing applications with partners across different sectors to extend the reach of this sustainable technology.
Ecosystem
A circular model that turns discarded crop residues into solutions for the challenges of the field
EF Polymer is made by upcycling crop residues, such as fruit peel and pulp, that would otherwise be discarded. This 100 % naturally derived superabsorbent polymer helps farmers improve yield and reduce production costs, even in conditions as harsh as drought.
What's more, the resulting harvest residues can be upcycled again to produce new EF Polymer, closing a sustainable cycle.
Tap each step to explore the EF Polymer ecosystem
01 Upcycling agricultural waste
EF Polymer is made by harnessing the power of nature. We upcycle agricultural waste such as orange peel, banana peel and other fruit residues, turning them into valuable resources.
02 Production of EF Polymer
After the residues are dried and milled, the pectin is extracted and blended. No petroleum-derived materials or chemical agents are used in the production of EF Polymer. Its defining feature is that the power of nature is harnessed at every stage.
03 Tackling water scarcity and the rising cost of fertiliser
EF Polymer helps farmers meet these challenges by holding water and nutrients in the soil for longer. This means significant water savings and less fertiliser use. By improving the soil's capacity to retain water and nutrients, EF Polymer also helps increase crop yield.
04 Sustainable farming: a circular model
Even in difficult environments, we help farmers achieve yield and improve soil quality, with long-term solutions to their problems. We also want to make a circular model of local production and consumption a reality, for example by upcycling local crops as raw material to produce the polymer.
Potential applications of EF Polymer
Beyond agriculture, EF Polymer is driving green transformation (GX) by offering a bio-based, fully biodegradable alternative to the petroleum-derived superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) already used in many products.
Hygiene products
- Sanitary pads
- Nappies
Daily care
- Shampoos and conditioners
- Gel air fresheners
Food and distribution
- Gel cold packs
- Cold chain in transport
Cosmetics
- Skincare products
- Natural thickener in cosmetics
Disaster prevention
- Containment bags
- Portable toilets (urine absorbent)
Pet products
- Pet absorbent pads
- Absorbent litter and bedding
Medicine
- Blood coagulants for medical waste
- Absorbent sheets for clinical use
Your sector?
- We co-develop applications with industry partners
- Tell us about your case
Most SAPs on the market today are…
Most superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) available today are petroleum-derived and come with significant problems:
High energy use and emissions
High energy consumption and emissions during manufacturing and disposal.
Loss of absorbency with fertiliser
In agricultural use they lose absorbency when mixed with certain fertilisers (chemical interactions).
Excessive retention in seedbeds
If applied incorrectly in seedbeds or pots, they can retain too much water and keep it away from the roots.
Not biodegradable
They do not fully biodegrade: they leave persistent residues and contribute to microplastics in the soil.
EF Polymer does not use polyacrylic acid, polyacrylamide or similar compounds: it is made mainly of organic matter, such as orange and banana peel.
A wide range of developments that harness a fully organic, fully biodegradable material
Innovations beyond agriculture: new applications for a 100 % natural, biodegradable technology
Cold pack (Ice-Pack)
Developed together with Iwatani Corporation, Cy-COOL is a circular-resource cold pack. Conventional cold packs usually use petroleum-derived polymers and carry a heavy environmental burden, especially at end of life, because disposal is energy-intensive.
By using EF Polymer as its base material, Cy-COOL's gel is fully biodegradable. After use as a coolant, the contents can be spread over potting substrate (for houseplants, for example) to improve water retention and close the resource loop. Cy-COOL has already been adopted by major retail chains in Japan and is sold in shops.
Thickener
Superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) have been used as thickeners (rheology modifiers) since the 1980s in cosmetics and everyday products. Most of those in use today are petroleum-derived, chosen for their low cost and ease of processing. However, some can irritate sensitive skin and, since they are not biodegradable, they persist in the environment and contribute to microplastic pollution.
EF Polymer has developed a thickener that is 100 % natural in origin and fully biodegradable. It offers strong thickening power and viscosity control, and can serve as a base material for adhesive or gel products, being gentle on the skin and kinder to the environment: a sustainable alternative to petrochemical SAPs.
Absorbent sheet
Conventional absorbent sheets are widely used in cosmetics, healthcare, packaging and other sectors, but most rely on petroleum-derived materials, raising concerns about microplastics and environmental impact at end of life.
Developed together with Soken Chemical, this next-generation sheet combines EF Polymer's 100 % natural superabsorbent polymer with a biodegradable non-woven fabric. It offers high absorbency and is designed to biodegrade after use, as a more sustainable alternative to conventional sheets, with applications across multiple sectors.
A superabsorbent polymer made from agricultural waste
- 100 % natural in origin
- Fully biodegradable