Leo de Montaignac, CEO of Weedingtech, discusses a new, sustainable alternative to chemical herbicide use.
As cities, campuses, and companies race to cut emissions, one overlooked culprit continues to undermine environmental goals: chemical herbicide use. Enter Weedingtech, the UK-based business tackling this problem at the source.
Each year, millions of litres of toxic weedkillers seep into soils and waterways, leaving behind a lasting trail of ecological harm and disposal challenges. For decades, glyphosate-based herbicides have dominated the weed control industry.
“The issue is that glyphosate has been linked to a lot of concerning medical conditions, as well as contaminating water tables, damaging delicate ecosystems. Increasingly, weeds have become resistant to it too,” explains Leo de Montaignac, CEO of Weedingtech. “So, legislators around the world have started to take action.” But a more sustainable approach to weed control is beginning to take root.
A cleaner, greener alternative
Weedingtech is the manufacturer of Foamstream, a solution that addresses these challenges. Foamstream is the world’s leading herbicide-free urban and amenity space management solution. It can be used on all surfaces, in all weathers, all year round.
“Our mission is simple – to help organisations control weeds safely, effectively, and without chemicals,” de Montaignac continues. “We’re proud to see Foamstream become the go-to solution for so many leading names.”
Weedingtech’s flagship product, Foamstream, is a biodegradable, herbicide-free weed control solution that helps urban and amenity space managers eliminate chemical use, reduce runoff, and minimise harmful residual waste, thereby eliminating toxic inputs and minimising downstream waste.
The system uses hot water combined with a biodegradable, plant-based foam to transfer and retain heat on vegetation, killing weeds safely and effectively.
“Foamstream is a thermal weed control system,” de Montaignac continues. “Our machinery takes water, heats it to just below boiling point and mixes it with our organic consumable foam. This is then applied to weeds to kill them. The heat in the water is our active ingredient; effectively, we’re boiling the weed.”
“The foam is the magic ingredient – and what really separates Foamstream from our competitors. By adding the foam, you trap the heat in the water for longer, ensuring that the heat goes into the weed, does its job and kills it.”
“That results in Foamstream having treatment cycles comparable to glyphosate. But it’s got some really good operational benefits over glyphosate and other products, too, in addition to the environmental benefits. You can use it in any weather. You won’t get downtime because the weather conditions are wrong for treatment. And the results are instantaneous, too.”
Global approval
Foamstream is approved for organic use in the UK, USA, Europe, and Australia. The product’s multipurpose capabilities extend beyond weed control to moss and algae removal, graffiti and gum cleaning, and outdoor sanitisation, reducing overall equipment waste and simplifying operations.
Weedingtech has thousands of clients, including G’s Fresh, a British royal residence, half of the UK’s utility companies, many UK councils, Chelsea FC, Real Madrid, Manchester City, Brighton, Borussia Dortmund, the University at Buffalo, San Francisco Parks & Recreation, UC Berkeley, Princeton University, New York City Parks, and Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, in higher education.
The University at Buffalo has recently deployed Foamstream too as part of its carbon neutrality and zero-waste goals, replacing chemical herbicides with a safe, regenerative method for campus maintenance.
Momentum across markets
In 2024, Turquoise, a leading investor in low-carbon and circular economy innovations, invested in Weedingtech as part of an £800,000 second closing capital raise.
Nick Pascoe, director at Turquoise, explains: “The technology is cost-effective, reliable and easy to use, providing the amenity market with a safe and effective alternative to herbicides and is already selling to customers in 23 countries, and we expect significant growth over the coming years.”
“The investment supported our continued expansion, particularly in North America, which is becoming our biggest individual market,” adds de Montaignac. “It’s accelerated new product development, too.”
Weedingtech has also recently expanded its distributor network, enabling more organisations to start to move away from herbicides.
“Weedingtech is launching two new product lines in 2026, strengthening the company’s position in the amenities sector,” de Montaignac continues. “This expanded range will allow us to engage with a wider audience, from local authorities to private enterprises, and to address a broader variety of weed control needs.”
Through a strategic partnership with G’s Fresh (one of Europe’s largest fresh produce growers), Weedingtech is developing a new solution tailored for high-value horticultural environments. A working prototype is underway for 2026, with rigorous testing taking place, in collaboration with G’s Fresh.
The business is also currently raising funds and is actively on the hunt for strategic partners, with target collaborators including machinery manufacturers keen to integrate Foamstream into their portfolios. Plans exist to go down the consumer route too, in 2028, de Montaignac says.
“There’s a real appetite for a consumer space product – and a real need for it too. Our plan is to optimise the technology, shrink it down, and to release a consumer product in around 2028, ideally with a large corporate partner.”