# Keeping Microplastics Out of Nature: A Discussion with Adam Root, Founder of Matter.

- Show: [Hardware to Save a Planet](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet)
- Published: 2024-03-28
- Length: 37m
- Episode: 49
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2024-03-28-keeping-microplastics-out-of-nature-a-discussion-with-adam-root-founder-of-matte
- Listen: https://podcasts.fame.so/e/p8lm6yrn-eliminating-microplastic-pollution-adam-root

## Summary

Adam Root, Founder of Matter, explains how his company captures microplastics from washing machines using a novel filtration technology called regenerative pressure convection. He details the transition from a consumer product, Gulp, to industrial applications, highlighting the technical challenge of filtering nanometer-scale particles without clogging. Root discusses the business model of recycling captured fibers into new materials and the urgent need for legislation and education to stop pollution at the source before it overwhelms ocean ecosystems.

## Chapters

- [0:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2024-03-28-keeping-microplastics-out-of-nature-a-discussion-with-adam-root-founder-of-matte#t=3) Introduction: Adam Root and Matter's mission
- [2:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2024-03-28-keeping-microplastics-out-of-nature-a-discussion-with-adam-root-founder-of-matte#t=128) Root's background: Japanese street food and scuba diving
- [6:17](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2024-03-28-keeping-microplastics-out-of-nature-a-discussion-with-adam-root-founder-of-matte#t=377) The genesis of Matter: Root's diving incident and right livelihood
- [8:11](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2024-03-28-keeping-microplastics-out-of-nature-a-discussion-with-adam-root-founder-of-matte#t=491) The scale of microplastic pollution and bioaccumulation
- [13:10](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2024-03-28-keeping-microplastics-out-of-nature-a-discussion-with-adam-root-founder-of-matte#t=790) Strategy: Stopping pollution at the source vs. cleanup
- [17:26](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2024-03-28-keeping-microplastics-out-of-nature-a-discussion-with-adam-root-founder-of-matte#t=1046) Gulp product and the technical challenge of filter clogging
- [21:23](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2024-03-28-keeping-microplastics-out-of-nature-a-discussion-with-adam-root-founder-of-matte#t=1283) Regenerative pressure convection technology explained
- [23:48](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2024-03-28-keeping-microplastics-out-of-nature-a-discussion-with-adam-root-founder-of-matte#t=1428) Scaling to industrial wastewater and licensing models
- [28:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2024-03-28-keeping-microplastics-out-of-nature-a-discussion-with-adam-root-founder-of-matte#t=1684) Commercial risks, competition, and race against time
- [31:33](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2024-03-28-keeping-microplastics-out-of-nature-a-discussion-with-adam-root-founder-of-matte#t=1893) Dyson influence and building a technology company culture

## Topics

- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Design for manufacturing & NPI](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/design-for-manufacturing)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)
- [Sustainability & circular products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sustainability-and-circularity)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Matter (company)
- Gulp (product)
- GE (company)
- Dyson (company)
- Elemental Accelerator (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

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- [Founder Feature: Woo Pailet of LOO](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2024-11-15-founder-feature-woo-pailet-of-loo) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [HIBT Lab! UNLESS Collective: Eric Liedtke](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-05-16-hibt-lab-unless-collective-eric-liedtke) (How I Built This)
- [method: Adam Lowry & Eric Ryan (2018)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-10-12-method-adam-lowry-eric-ryan-2018) (How I Built This)
- [291 - Plastic and Styrofoam were everywhere on Burlington Island!](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2024-10-01-291-plastic-and-styrofoam-were-everywhere-on-burlington-island) (People of Packaging)

## Citing this page

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