Organic Super Absorbent Polymer Soil Moisturizer
This Case Study was developed by the Project Frame Case Studies Working Group with the intention to advance the practice of forward-looking emissions impact assessment and the Impact Measurement & Management field by showcasing different approaches and tools.
Summary
|
Solution Group |
Soil Additive |
|
Solution Type |
Organic Hydrogel |
|
Solution Sector |
Agriculture |
|
Solution Impact Type |
Avoidance |
|
Solution Pathway Type |
Direct - Product |
|
Investment Stage |
Series A |
|
Incumbent Market |
Conventional Farming Practices |
|
Sales Unit |
KGs per Hectare |
|
Potential Impact Geography |
Global |
|
Potential Impact Market Capture |
9% |
|
Annual Potential Impact in 2050 |
5.2 MMT CO2e |
|
Cumulative Potential Impact 2024 - 2050 |
56 MMT CO2e |
|
Annual Planned Impact in 2030 |
22,710 MT CO2e |
|
Cumulative Planned Impact 2024 - 2030 |
121,620 MT CO2e |
This company has developed a biodegradable hydrogel produced entirely from fruit peel waste to serve as an organic super absorbent polymer (SAP) in soils of drought-stricken agricultural land. These eco-friendly SAPs can absorb and retain up to 50x their weight in water, offering exceptional hydration capacity for agricultural soils while minimizing irrigation and fertilizer needs.
Unlike conventional petroleum-based SAPs, this bio-derived product is manufactured from orange and banana peels via a process that consumes 40-50% less energy, reduces CO2 emissions relative to traditional farming practices, and emphasizes responsible water and waste management. It serves as a soil conditioner, moisture reservoir, and micronutrient supplement, and displaces traditional water- and fertilizer-intensive farming practices. The use of biomass as a feedstock avoids the landfilling or open-air decomposition of fruit peels that contribute both methane and CO2 emissions.
This case study looks at the GHG emissions impact as well as several co-benefits and risks of harm.
Challenges
There are a range of uncertainties associated with this Super Absorbent Polymer Soil Moisturizer case study. Uncertainties can arise when using assumptions and averages based on historical performance due to limited availability of past data expectations of future changes to those assumptions and averages (this is especially true for early-stage ventures).
Finally, the Human Thriving Assessment is in its nascent stages. It served as a valuable learning experience for the Case Studies Working Group, initiating contemplation on potential co-benefits and risk frameworks, particularly for early-stage ventures. Nevertheless, substantial work is required to establish benchmarks and/or criteria for measurement, to assess and compare community and population impacts of prospective investments, to quantify avoided losses, and to evaluate trade-offs with decarbonization efforts.
This Case Study was developed by the Project Frame Case Studies Working Group with the intention to advance the practice of forward-looking emissions impact assessment and the Impact Measurement & Management field by showcasing different approaches and tools. Project Frame invites investors to share their own examples and provide feedback to help us improve our case study format and impact assessment guidance by reaching out to impact@primecoalition.org.
Project Frame is not a regulatory body, nor should its content be considered financial advice. Methodology guidance produced by Project Frame represents our contributors’ consensus and no one singular entity. Our work is intended for readers to review and use their best judgement to accelerate GHG mitigation with transparency and accountability.
2024-25 Case Studies Working Group
Prime Coalition, Climate Collective, Saltech Design Lab, EF Polymer, Ashwatta, Boston Consulting Group, ClimatePoint, Center for Social Value Enhancement Studies, Energy Environment Investment, GenZero, Green Artha, iRoller, Mandalay VC, Undivided Ventures, Upaya Social Ventures, Wollemi, Omnivore VC, and SeedFuture.