Israeli start-up Solutum Technologies is attracting attention. The company,
founded in 2017 by chemical engineer Sharon Barak to tackle the single-use plastic pollution crisis, has created a novel plastic material that will dissolve and biodegrades in salt- and fresh water at ambient temperature and after a pre-determined time according to a controlled dissolution process. Microbes found in all types of water break down the plastic into carbon dioxide, water, and biomass, leaving no toxic residue or microplastics of any kind. The material can be also be composted in industrial composting or biodegrade in soil, leaving no environmental impact.
The material is suitable for various single-use packaging applications, including bags and shrink wrap, and can be manufactured on existing production lines.
Solutum has already been working with major companies such as Colgate-Palmolive and AB InBev.
“Our mission is lofty – to solve the plastic waste crisis. We have all seen the impact of plastics on the environment, on oceans, wildlife and human health,” said Sharon Barak, Founder and President of Solutum. The way to do so, she added, is to partner with the biggest companies in the world.
The company has now tapped industry veteran Daniel Friedman to take on the task of the global scaling of the company’s biodegradable solution for flexible packaging. The company announced his appointment as its Corporate Director and board member 24 July.
“Daniel has an incredible track record of success building and expanding businesses that impact the world,” said Barak.
Friedmann previously served as Chairman and then also as CEO of Carbon Engineering, the pioneer and category leader in direct air capture. Under his leadership, direct air capture technology has become a pillar of decarbonisation efforts. Prior to this, Friedmann was Corporate Director and CEO of MDA Space (formerly MDA Ltd.), a leader in advanced technology and services for the global space industry. During his tenure with MDA, Friedmann oversaw company growth from $80 million to over $2 billion in revenues.
“Plastic pollution is an immense problem facing the planet. Flexible packaging poses a particular challenge for packaging manufacturers who are mandated to reduce plastic waste,” said Friedmann. “We have a ready-to-go scalable solution that enables manufacturers to reduce their material use and offers a holistic end-of-life for flexible packaging applications.”
Friedmann has been working with the Solutum team as Corporate Director since late 2023.