Staying ahead of the technology curve means strengthening your competitive advantage. That is why we give you data-driven innovation insights into the automotive industry. This time, you get to discover 5 hand-picked startups developing biomaterials.
Global Startup Heat Map highlights 5 Top Biomaterials Impacting Automotive Companies out of 215
The insights of this data-driven analysis are derived from the Big Data & Artificial Intelligence-powered StartUs Insights Discovery Platform, covering 2.093.000+ startups & scaleups globally. The platform gives you an exhaustive overview of emerging technologies & relevant startups within a specific field in just a few clicks.
The Global Startup Heat Map below reveals the distribution of the 215 exemplary startups & scaleups we analyzed for this research. Further, it highlights 5 startups that we hand-picked based on criteria such as founding year, location, funding raised, and more. You get to explore the solutions of these 5 startups & scaleups in this report. For insights on the other 210 biomaterials, get in touch.
Pivot Materials develops Automotive Panels
The automotive industry generates large volumes of waste at every step of the supply chain. While the recycling of materials such as metals, solvents, plastic, and glass addresses some environmental concerns, there is still a need for more sustainable manufacturing. Bio-based materials or biodegradable materials, for example, tackle the issue of resource depletion. That is why many startups are producing biomaterials from agricultural byproducts for use in the automotive sector.
US-based startup Pivot Materials develops natural fiber composites. The startup provides two types of biomaterials. The first, BioDur is a durable biomaterial made from bamboo and waste materials including rice hulls. The production of the second material, BioPur, uses renewable resources like corn, beet, or cane sugar. These biomaterials are strong, durable, and are effective replacements for plastics in automotive interiors and exteriors.
out for space creates a Rattan Palm-based Biomaterial
Sustainable mobility technologies are blooming with solutions to generate biofuels or bio-batteries that reduce emissions and thereby tackle environmental concerns. However, the composition of various non-renewable static materials which are used in the production of automotive interior and exterior panels are equally important to account for. Thus, adopting biomaterials for the manufacturing of automotive seating and interior panels, among others, is of foremost importance.
German startup out for space produces biomaterials for use in automotive interiors. The startup transforms rattan palms’ natural structure into its proprietary material, called karuun. It utilizes energy-efficient technology to create lightweight, air-permeable material with high stability and malleability. The startup’s biomaterial is already in use in the interiors of NIO Mercedes Benz cars.
Teysha Technologies builds a Green Polycarbonate Platform
With an increased market for lightweight, affordable, and fuel-efficient vehicles, the demand for petroleum-based polycarbonates is on the rise. However, plastics account for the highest proportion of solid waste, raising concerns about plastic pollution and environmental degradation. Biomaterials serve as a replacement but require optimization for strength, malleability, flexibility, and rigidity. To address this challenge, material startups are developing platforms that analyze and provide insights on biomaterials and their applications in industries like automotive, energy, and FMCG.
UK-based startup Teysha Technologies offers a natural product polycarbonate platform. The startup’s platform modifies and combines various natural monomers and thiol co-monomers. This allows the users to create sustainable plastics and to design synthesis strategies for the formation of final products. Teysha’s technology supports the development of renewable plastics as a replacement for conventional plastics used in automotive manufacturing.
Mixcycling produces Fiber Biocomposites
Biomaterials find use either in their natural form or after modifying certain properties required for the target product. This makes biomaterials easier to manufacture as replacements to existing conventional materials including plastics. However, the introduction of additive manufacturing increased the demand for filamentous materials. This is why startups are developing technologies to produce fiber biomaterials.
Italian startup Mixcycling develops biomaterials from byproducts of the agricultural industry. The startup’s non-thermal plasma (NTP) technology activates fibers and bonds them closer to a polymer base. It then performs mixcycling to produce pellets free of odor and volatility. The resulting biomaterial finds applications in the additive manufacturing of automotive interior panels, automotive packaging, and other products.
FineCell provides Cellulose Powder Composites
The adoption of sustainable biomaterials that reduce the use of their plastic counterparts effectively reduces the carbon footprint of automotive companies. However, the production and processing of biomaterials also need to utilize green technologies for end-to-end sustainability. Moreover, many materials are washed using toxic chemicals to decolor and mold them into the required shape. Startups are developing biomaterial processing technologies that use non-toxic chemicals and lower water consumption.
Swedish startup FineCell produces cellulose powders and hydrogels for use in automotive chassis, interiors, and paints. The startup deploys proprietary green and energy-efficient processes to synthesize cellulose microfibers. The technology is based on water and solvent-free chemical reaction and, consequently, lowers water consumption. The cellulose powder is sustainable, lightweight, and is compatible with thermoplastic formulations used in automotive interiors.
Discover more Automotive Startups
Automotive startups such as the examples highlighted in this report focus on autonomous vehicles, connectivity as well as electrification. While all of these technologies play a major role in advancing the automotive industry, they only represent the tip of the iceberg. To explore more automotive technologies, simply get in touch to let us look into your areas of interest. For a more general overview, you can download our free Automotive Innovation Report to save your time and improve strategic decision-making.
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