PolyGone Systems CEO & Co-Founder on Removing Microplastics and Improving Planetary Health with Design Thinking

Can design thinking and partnerships accelerate climate solutions at the pace the world now demands? The scale and urgency of the transformation required to fight climate change has never been more clear. Building hardware and software products, acquiring the funding and creating a diverse community to enhance talent capacity and to drive innovation, is essential to tackling this global environmental crisis. In this podcast, host Silicon Valley Bank (a division of First Citizens Bank) Climate Tech & Sustainability SVP Maggie Wong will be interviewing PolyGone Systems CEO & Co-Founder Nathaniel Banks to discuss improving planetary health with design thinking, partnerships to remove and recover microplastics across bodies of water, the balance of product iteration and customer testing, and and importance of education of a problem and relevant solutions to facilitate adoption

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Show Notes

1. PolyGone’s core mission is to remove microplastics from water using innovative, energy-free technology.
2. Microplastics, which can be found in various water sources, pose significant health risks to humans and animals.
3. Founder Nathaniel Banks transitioned from architectural design to focus on waste management and microplastic removal.
4. PolyGone’s proprietary silicon material achieves about 98% removal of sub-millimeter microplastics in water.
5. Existing solutions for microplastic removal, like reverse osmosis, are costly and energy-intensive; PolyGone offers a lower-cost, passive alternative.
6. Microplastics have been found in almost all natural water sources and bottled water, and can accumulate in bodily tissues.
7. The first municipal pilot succeeded after significant difficulties finding early adopters due to lack of regulation.
8. The initial success depended on direct collaboration with a utility, which provided critical feedback for refining the technology.
9. Growing awareness about microplastics has driven increased interest from the private sector, especially textiles and consumer goods.
10. PolyGone’s product iteration process moved from only 25% removal in the lab to 98% via real-world piloting.
11. Iterative design and rapid prototyping, combined with real-world testing, enabled commercial viability.
12. Speed to market and iterating with field data gave PolyGone a competitive advantage over potential future entrants.
13. Diversity in expertise—in design, engineering, chemistry, and management—was essential for PolyGone’s team success.
14. Collaboration with external experts at Princeton and inclusion of various skills helped overcome initial skepticism and technical hurdles.
15. PolyGone operates a diversified and gender-balanced team, emphasizing multiple perspectives in problem-solving.
16. The health implications of microplastics, rather than just environmental impact, have broadened PolyGone’s appeal and adoption.
17. PolyGone’s pricing is designed to be cost-effective, with a razor/razor-blade model for system installation and media replacement.
18. The company is working with partners to find solutions for recycling or converting captured microplastics, including enzymatic and catalytic methods.
19. New product development is targeting not only microplastics but also other contaminants, such as cotton fibers from textiles.
20. Educational initiatives and a microplastic analysis service aim to raise public awareness and foster broader engagement in solving microplastic pollution.