Orange peel polymers save water on farms

These biodegradable, super-absorbent polymers help growers use less water and fertiliser

Spotted: Climate change is making water supplies for agriculture less predictable. One way to mitigate this is with the use of super absorbent polymers, which trap water when it rains and release it slowly. However, these polymers are rarely sustainable to produce. Enter EF Polymer.

EF Polymer manufactures super absorbent polymers made from biowaste like orange peels, which are 100 per cent organic and fully biodegradable. When applied to the soil, the polymer can hold up to 100 times its weight in water and fertiliser, releasing them slowly over time. According to the company, the polymer can reduce water usage by up to 40 per cent, cut fertiliser use by up to 20 per cent, and help to increase yield.

In addition, the polymer begins to slowly (and safely) biodegrade six months after it is applied to the soil and is fully biodegraded into the soil within a year. The polymer is also produced through an eco-conscious manufacturing process that doesn’t involve harmful chemicals and uses less energy than industry standards.

Chief Marketing Officer Kyoji Nakao told Springwise that founder and CEO Narayan Lal Gurjar came up with the idea for the polymer while still in high school, in a small village in Rajasthan, India, where Lal Gurjar’s father was a farmer and struggled with water shortages. Eventually, “After more than 10,000 trials in the lab and field, he came up with a solution that is now sold in the world.”

Nakao explained that the company’s primary goal is to reduce the number of farmers who suffer from water scarcity, but EF Polymer has also recently launched a line of biodegradable, circular polymer thickeners for cosmetic and personal care products. Nakao added, “While agriculture remains our mainstream business, we are committed to expand our business in various industries to realise a sustainable society.”

In spring 2025, the company aims to raise series B funding worth approximately $15 million in order to strengthen R&D and international business development.

Written By: Lisa Magloff