Foamplant Becomes the World’s First to Make 100% Biodegradable Foam

“We are fully committed to creating sustainable foam, recycling it, and turning it back into new foam—repeating this endlessly” 

says Foamplant CEO Martin Tietema.

Foam for Comfort

Foamplant has been supplying its eco-friendly foam to the horticultural sector for several years, where it is used as a sustainable growth substrate. Starting next year, the startup will expand its product offerings to industries such as furniture, mattresses, packaging, and others. “Our technology can be used for furniture and sofas, beds and mattresses, and even seats in cars, buses, or airplanes. For anything related to comfort, it’s simply a great circular alternative,” says Tietema.

Lack of Alternatives

Much like plastic, most foam is made from polymers—repeating molecular chains that make the material incredibly strong and resistant to decomposition in nature. Plastic foam is found in countless products, including clothing, shoes, furniture, and mattresses. Currently, sustainable alternatives are scarce. Additionally, the production of synthetic foam generates significant CO2 emissions. Foamplant aims to change this by creating foam with a carbon-neutral footprint.

A Eureka Moment

While studying molecular biology at the University of Groningen (RUG), Tietema discovered that plastics and foams can also be made from biopolymers—natural raw materials derived from biomass such as corn, sugarcane, or sugar water, as well as from waste streams like roadside grass or glucose from potato peels. This type of foam is easy to recycle, and if not recycled, it fully decomposes in nature. “That was a eureka moment and a trigger for me,” he says.

Half of Plastic Waste is Foam

At the same time, Tietema was alarmed by the environmental issues caused by plastic waste. “Most foam in the world is made of plastic. By weight, foam accounts for 10% of all plastic waste, but in terms of volume, it makes up half. It’s everywhere—in the plastic soup, on beaches, in landfills, and in incinerators. The volume is enormous. That’s why we aim to bring biopolymer foam products to market. We believe this is the future. We want to recycle all foam and use only plant-based materials or waste streams for any additional resources needed,” says Tietema.

Starting in a Garage

Driven by this philosophy, Tietema founded Foamplant in 2017. He started with a small team in a 30-square-meter garage, where the first technology was developed to make 100% biodegradable foam from biopolymers. “Tests at the university had already shown it was possible. We were convinced we could scale this up and turn it into a mass-market product,” Tietema explains. By 2019, the first eco-friendly foam was produced. Today, the company operates out of a 5,000-square-meter facility in Groningen and employs 38 people. “Our entire team is driven to create a waste-free world. The chemical industry often questions whether it’s possible to make plastics without oil or waste. We’re proving that it can be done,” says Tietema.

Cheaper and Safer

In horticulture, the sustainable foam is branded as Growfoam. It is used in vegetable and fruit cultivation in greenhouses and vertical farming as a replacement for conventional substrates. This alternative is not only greener but also reduces costs and is cleaner and safer, leaving no microplastics or other pollutants behind. In soil, it fully biodegrades into CO2 and water within a few weeks, thanks to fungi and bacteria. Growfoam was launched in 2019. With its technology now advanced, Foamplant is expanding the use of its sustainable foam to other applications, such as Auping mattresses, where it is branded as Moorefoam.

Paying for Recycling

Foamplant sources its biopolymers from companies that produce them from biomass and waste streams. The company then transforms these into high-quality foam. All foam is recycled, with agreements in place with customers and collection companies to ensure that the foam is returned. Foamplant even pays for its collection. The foam can be reused countless times. “We turn old foam into new foam without wasting any of it. What doesn’t return is entirely biodegradable. We believe this is the future,” says Tietema. “We are the first company in the world capable of producing 100% biodegradable foam based on circular materials.”

This article was first published by Change Inc as part of a campaign with Green Chemistry, New Economy, by editor André Oerlemans. Read the full series on their site or at Change Inc.