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A promising new material, set to transform certain types of manufacturing and prevent many tonnes of plastic pollution in our seas, has been developed in Bath. The Bath University start-up, NaturBeads, were the winners of the Environmental and Sustainability Award at the BathLive Business Awards due to the potential importance of their innovation for conservation.

However, while the technology could also be a really big deal for Bath’s economy and Britain’s exports, BusinessLive has learned that manufacturing might move abroad due to Britain leaving the European Union (EU).

NaturBeads, a company based in the Chemical Engineering department of the University of Bath, has developed a product which is able to replace small plastic beads used to make cosmetics, paints, adhesives in manufacturing processes across the world.

The material, a form of cellulose like the cell walls of plant or animal cells, and the fibre that we eat, is not so flexible for manufacturing as starch which can be adapted to make films and carrier bags similar to plastic bags, but it is much stronger. Both starch and cellulose are made from polysaccharides - chains of sugar molecules, which is why they are both completely biodegradable but cellulose cannot be melted, moulded or stretched into a film.

Instead, the team has pioneered techniques to form the cellulose into spherical shapes pioneering a new process called membrane emulsification which they have used for the very first time.

“Naturbeads is a ‘cleantech’ start-up working on the commercialisation of an innovative manufacturing process,” said the chief executive, Giovanna Laudisio.

"We want to produce cellulose microspheres in a sustainable and cost-efficient way. Our cellulose microspheres have been successfully tested in cosmetics, paints, adhesive, leather products and other consumers and industrial applications to replace polluting plastic microspheres.

“The recognition that comes from winning an award like BathLive Business Award is really helpful to increase our visibility and reach more companies looking for a solution to reduce their environmental impact and become more sustainable.