World News

Matter filters out microplastics, one washer at at time — and raises $10M to go industrial on August 9, 2023 at 4:01 pm

Published

3 years ago

August 9, 2023

Microplastics are everywhere — quite literally, as study after study shows. And while we can’t do much about the tiny, toxic particles already in our oceans, waterways, and bodies, we can try to slow the release of new ones. Matter is a startup attempting to do so (with a shiny new $10 million) using a new type of reusable filter that catches microfibers before they can reach the sea and disintegrate.

Synthetic (i.e. plastic) clothing materials like polyester shed countless pieces when they are made, worn, washed, and discarded. Durable, toxic, and omnipresent, these microscopic polymer scraps are taken in by filter-feeding creatures and then work their way up the food chain, causing biological havoc all the while. And that’s just one vector for the stuff.

Adam Root, co-founder and CEO of Matter, explained that he started looking into the problem in 2017, when it was beginning to become more clear how great a danger microplastics represented.

“We’re seeing this micro-pollution break the blood brain barrier; it’s changing fertility rates; plankton are ingesting it like crazy. I was like, OK, somebody has to solve this — and I tried to find other people to work for, to be honest,” Root told TechCrunch. “But it was clear to me that the size and scale of this issue is not being thought about in the correct way.”

With a background in mechanical engineering and history at Dyson and GE, Root is familiar with the ecosystems in play. Which is why the company started out (after a £250 grant to grease the wheels) with an unlikely success last year: a Kickstarter-funded aftermarket filter for home washing machines. The Gulp, as it is called, attracted a large number of backers, showing (as is usually the real intent with crowdfunding) consumer appetite for this kind of eco-friendly appliance.

The major advance Matter has made is in a filter that catches microplastics without needing to be itself replaced, like many filters.

“We call it regenerative filtration. We get the material and stick it together, without adding any chemicals or other substances,” Root said. “Nobody’s ever done this without disposable parts.”

The Matter crew; CEO Adam Root is center in back.

The collected plastic dust can then be sent back to them for reuse (there are applications in things like insulation) or, really, just thrown away. It’s a lot like the lint trap in a tumble dryer, and no one hesitates to toss a bit of fluff in the bin. A similar amount of fibers come off clothes in the washer, but right now they just go down the drain. Catching a significant proportion of it is good even if it ends up in a landfill. The Gulp was more than fully funded on Kickstarter and Matter expects to deliver it on time or even early.

But selling a rather expensive add-on to upstanding global citizens is still a “small” solution. But Root said there was no other way.

“We had to start with the D2C side because honestly, as a business I’d be dead before we got paid if we went after the big business side first,” he said. “It’s like 5 year cycles there. We’re now looking into that industrial scale, wastewater treatment, textiles and so on, where we see large volumes of impact, but it’s important to hit both ends of the scale. Don’t underestimate the impact at the consumer level.”

On one end, you have large textile manufacturers, which pour microplastics-contaminated water in huge quantities into our waterways. On the other, consumer washing machines that produce only a gram per wash — but with millions of machines being used regularly, it adds up to millions of kilograms very quickly.

The French government will soon require washers to include some sort of microplastics mitigation, and it’s likely similar legislation is around the corner in other countries or jurisdictions as well. Therefore another piece of the Matter business pie is integrating directly with washers so that an aftermarket solution is unnecessary.

Image Credits: Matter

Although the company declined to make the pictures available (not final design, presumably), I was shown images of an industrial-scale prototype that can handle millions of liters of wastewater per day without taking up too much space or impeding outflow (no one wants a solution that causes new problems). Like the Gulp, it doesn’t rely on any disposable parts.

The company’s planet-friendly approach and traction have attracted considerable investment. Matter announced today a $10 million A round led by S2G Ventures and SOUNDWaves; the latter you may recognize as frequent TechCrunch Disrupt guest Ashton Kutcher’s venture outfit. Not one to be left out of the party, Leonardo Dicaprio’s Regeneration.VC also invested, as well as Katapult Ocean and “a small number” of strategics.

“The funding will unlock the industrial filtering part of our business,” Root said. “The majority of the money we’ll spend is on people, because the tech we’ve developed, we’re comfortable with it — now it’s about working with these massive clients. Their supply lines are just… they can produce things at costs I can only dream about. They’re like a train, they take a while to get going, but once they do, it doesn’t stop. That’s how you move the needle: you utilize these juggernaughts.”

Expect to hear more about Matter’s next steps as their pilot projects bear fruit: the company is doing tests in Turkey, Mexico, India and Sri Lanka over the next year or so, and aims to scale production to millions of filter units (inclusive of all sizes) in 2025.

Microplastics are everywhere — quite literally, as study after study shows. And while we can’t do much about the tiny, toxic particles already in our oceans, waterways, and bodies, we can try to slow the release of new ones. Matter is a startup attempting to do so (with a shiny new $10 million) using a

Business

GLOBAL SUSTAINABILITY SUMMIT RETURNS FOR ITS 5TH EDITION AT THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT – HOUSE OF LORDS, PALACE OF WESTMINSTER

Published

1 week ago

May 16, 2026

Bolanle Media Staff

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Theme: “People, Planet, and Profit in the Age of AI and Innovation”

London, United Kingdom — The Global Sustainability Summit (GSS) is officially back for its landmark 5th Edition, continuing its legacy as one of the leading international platforms driving sustainable development, climate action, ethical investment, innovation, and global collaboration.

Convened annually at the prestigious British Parliament, House of Lords, Palace of Westminster, by Ambassador Canon Chinenem Otto, the Summit has, over the last four years, successfully fostered international dialogue and partnerships that have contributed to the advancement of global sustainability goals, the establishment of sustainability-focused ministries, departments and policy structures across national and subnational governments, and the attraction of major investors into sustainable development projects, corporations and emerging economies.

This year’s summit, themed “People, Planet, and Profit in the Age of AI and Innovation,” will explore how emerging technologies, responsible leadership, sustainable finance, innovation, and global partnerships can shape a more inclusive, resilient and environmentally conscious future.

The 5th Edition promises to be the most impactful yet, bringing together world leaders, policymakers, diplomats, investors, academics, innovators, climate experts and youth leaders from across the globe to discuss actionable solutions toward achieving a sustainable and equitable future.

Among the distinguished speakers, delegates and honorees already lined up for the Summit are:

• His Excellency Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq — Executive Governor of Kwara State, Nigeria and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum

• His Excellency Senator Prince Bassey Otu — Executive Governor of Cross River State, Nigeria

• Ambassador Patricia Espinosa Cantellano — Former Executive Secretary of UN Climate Change (UNFCCC) and Former Foreign Minister of Mexico

• Lord Marvin Rees, Baron Rees of Easton OBE — Member of the House of Lords, United Kingdom

• Hon. Neema K. Lugangira — Secretary-General of Women Political Leaders (WPL), Brussels and Former Member of Parliament

• Her Excellency Dr. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah — President of the Republic of Namibia

• His Excellency Nangolo Mbumba — Former President of Namibia

• Former President of Tanzania

• Her Excellency Ambassador Professor Olufolake AbdulRazaq — First Lady of Kwara State, Nigeria and Chairperson of Nigeria Governors’ Spouses Forum

• Your Excellency Dr. Dikko Umar Radda, PhD, CON — Executive Governor of Katsina State and Chairman of the Northwest Governors Forum, Nigeria

• Hon. Sam Shafiishuna Nujoma — Governor of Khomas Region, Namibia

• H.E. Mr. Veiccoh Nghiwete — High Commissioner of the Republic of Namibia to the United Kingdom

• Her Excellency Ms. Macenje “Che Che” Mazoka — High Commissioner of Zambia to the United Kingdom

• Ms. Danielle Newman — Partner Lead, ICT, World Economic Forum

• Leanne Elliott Young — Co-founder, Institute of Digital Fashion & CommuneEast

• Ms. Chloe Russell — Producer & Presenter, Art, Science and Nature

• Professor Marie-Claire Cordonier Segger — University of Cambridge & University of Waterloo

• Dr. Alexandra R. Harrington — IUCN World Commission on Environmental Law (WCEL)

• Professor Payam Akhavan — Massey College, University of Toronto

• Mr. Mallai C. E. Sathya — President, Dravida Vetri Kazhagam and International Movement for Tamil Culture Asia

The Summit will feature high-level panel discussions, strategic investment conversations, sustainability awards, policy dialogues, innovation showcases, youth engagement sessions and international networking opportunities focused on climate resilience, ethical financing, food-water-energy sustainability, circular economy, artificial intelligence, diplomacy and sustainable development.

Speaking ahead of the Summit, Convener Ambassador Canon Chinenem Otto noted:

“As the world rapidly evolves through artificial intelligence and technological innovation, we must ensure that sustainability remains people-centered, environmentally responsible and economically inclusive. The Global Sustainability Summit continues to serve as a bridge connecting governments, institutions, innovators and investors to accelerate practical sustainability solutions globally. Our fifth edition is not only a celebration of progress made over the years, but also a renewed call for global collaboration and actionable impact toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and Net Zero ambitions.”

The Global Sustainability Summit continues to position itself as a catalyst for transformative partnerships and sustainable global progress, reinforcing the urgent need for collective action toward a more resilient and sustainable future.

More announcements regarding additional speakers, partners and summit activities will be unveiled in the coming weeks.

News

US May Completely Cut Income Tax Due to Tariff Revenue

Published

6 months ago

November 30, 2025

Bolanle Media Staff

President Donald Trump says the United States might one day get rid of federal income tax because of money the government collects from tariffs on imported goods. Tariffs are extra taxes the U.S. puts on products that come from other countries.

What Trump Is Saying

Trump has said that tariff money could become so large that it might allow the government to cut income taxes “almost completely.” He has also talked about possibly phasing out income tax over the next few years if tariff money keeps going up.

How Taxes Work Now

Right now, the federal government gets much more money from income taxes than from tariffs. Income taxes bring in trillions of dollars each year, while tariffs bring in only a small part of that total. Because of this gap, experts say tariffs would need to grow by many times to replace income tax money.

Questions From Experts

Many economists and tax experts doubt that tariffs alone could pay for the whole federal budget. They warn that very high tariffs could make many imported goods more expensive for shoppers in the United States. This could hit lower- and middle‑income families hardest, because they spend a big share of their money on everyday items.

What Congress Must Do

The president can change some tariffs, but only Congress can change or end the federal income tax. That means any real plan to remove income tax would need new laws passed by both the House of Representatives and the Senate. So far, there is no detailed law or full budget plan on this idea.

What It Means Right Now

For now, Trump’s comments are a proposal, not a change in the law. People and businesses still have to pay federal income tax under the current rules. The debate over using tariffs instead of income taxes is likely to continue among lawmakers, experts, and voters.

News

Epstein Files to Be Declassified After Trump Order

Published

6 months ago

November 20, 2025

Bolanle Media Staff

Former President Donald Trump has signed an executive order directing federal agencies to declassify all government files related to Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced financier whose death in 2019 continues to fuel controversy and speculation.

The order, signed Wednesday at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate, instructs the FBI, Department of Justice, and intelligence agencies to release documents detailing Epstein’s network, finances, and alleged connections to high-profile figures. Trump described the move as “a step toward transparency and public trust,” promising that no names would be shielded from scrutiny.

“This information belongs to the American people,” Trump said in a televised statement. “For too long, powerful interests have tried to bury the truth. That ends now.”

U.S. intelligence officials confirmed that preparations for the release are already underway. According to sources familiar with the process, the first batch of documents is expected to be made public within the next 30 days, with additional releases scheduled over several months.

Reactions poured in across the political spectrum. Supporters praised the decision as a bold act of accountability, while critics alleged it was politically motivated, timed to draw attention during a volatile election season. Civil rights advocates, meanwhile, emphasized caution, warning that some records could expose private victims or ongoing legal matters.

The Epstein case, which implicated figures in politics, business, and entertainment, remains one of the most talked-about scandals of the past decade. Epstein’s connections to influential individuals—including politicians, royals, and executives—have long sparked speculation about the extent of his operations and who may have been involved.

Former federal prosecutor Lauren Fields said the release could mark a turning point in public discourse surrounding government transparency. “Regardless of political stance, this declassification has the potential to reshape how Americans view power and accountability,” Fields noted.

Officials say redactions may still occur to protect sensitive intelligence or personal information, but the intent is a near-complete disclosure. For years, critics of the government’s handling of Epstein’s case have accused agencies of concealing evidence or shielding elites from exposure. Trump’s order promises to change that narrative.

As anticipation builds, journalists, legal analysts, and online commentators are preparing for what could be one of the most consequential information releases in recent history.