ZymoChem Featured on CNBC's “Clean Start” Series
Company Recognized on National Television for Groundbreaking Bio-Based Technology
SAN LEANDRO, CA, June 26, 2025 - ZymoChem, developers of the world's most carbon-efficient bio-manufacturing platform, was featured on CNBC's Clean Start series hosted by Emmy Award-winning senior climate correspondent Diana Olick.
The segment highlighted ZymoChem's groundbreaking work in making diapers environmentally friendly through their revolutionary BAYSE™ bio-based super absorbent polymer.
The feature showcased ZymoChem's mission to transform the $145 billion global hygiene industry with sustainable alternatives to petroleum-based materials.
CNBC's Clean Start program follows venture capital money into climate startups and showcases companies working to combat climate change across all sectors, making ZymoChem's inclusion a significant recognition of the company's innovative approach to bio-manufacturing.
The spotlight comes as ZymoChem continues to gain momentum following the launch of BAYSE, the world's first scalable, 100% bio-based, and biodegradable Super Absorbent Polymer (SAP). The timing underscores growing mainstream interest in sustainable alternatives that address the environmental crisis created by disposable products
“We are thrilled to be featured on CNBC’s ‘Clean Start.’
This recognition validates our mission to upend the materials industry with technology that delivers sustainability without compromising performance, scale, or economics.”
ZymoChem's BAYSE addresses one of the most pressing environmental challenges in consumer products. According to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 300,000 diapers enter landfills or are incinerated every minute globally. In the United States alone, hygiene products represent the third largest contributor to limited landfill space, behind only food and paper waste.
Unlike petroleum-derived polyacrylate SAPs currently used in disposable diapers, BAYSE is made from renewable resources and maintains a dramatically lower carbon footprint. The material serves as a drop-in replacement for traditional SAPs, ensuring that manufacturers can adopt the sustainable alternative without changing existing production processes or product performance.
ZymoChem's proprietary platform converts renewable feedstocks into bio-based materials with reduced CO2 emissions through a patented fermentation process. The company's Carbon Conserving (C2) microbes deliver up to 50% greater yields compared to alternative methods, creating a dramatic cost advantage while radically minimizing carbon emissions during production.
“ZymoChem invented this new type of absorbent by using a fermentation process to convert a renewable resource - sugar from corn - into biodegradable materials.”
The CNBC feature amplifies ZymoChem's recent achievements, including securing additional financing led by lululemon and Toyota Ventures announced in April 2025. This new capital is being directed to accelerate the commercialization of ZymoChem's sustainable bio-based materials and expand manufacturing capabilities across multiple product lines.
“Being able to build and grow with biology allows us to unlock a circular economy and a supply chain that is no longer petro-derived.”
The Clean Start recognition positions ZymoChem among a growing group of climate innovators gaining national attention for their potential to drive meaningful environmental change. As consumer awareness of sustainability issues continues to grow, companies like ZymoChem are developing the technologies needed to transition away from petroleum-based materials across multiple industries.
Beyond hygiene products, ZymoChem's core technology and patent portfolio unlock vast opportunities for inspiring change across various sectors, from textiles to personal care. The company has been listed as one of America's Top Greentech Companies of 2025 by TIME Magazine and Statista.
To learn more about CNBC’s coverage of ZymoChem, read the full Clean Start coverage by clicking here.