Staying ahead of the technology curve means strengthening your competitive advantage. That is why we give you data-driven innovation insights into the materials industry. This time, you get to discover 5 hand-picked startups developing bioplastics.
Global Startup Heat Map highlights 5 Top Startups developing Bioplastics out of 210
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 210 exemplary startups & scaleups we analyzed for this research. Further, it highlights 5 materials 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 205 bioplastics solutions, get in touch.
Relicta develops Biodegradable Bioplastics
Bioplastics act as sustainable alternatives to plastics that utilize renewable biomass sources such as agricultural and food waste or used plastics. However, not all bioplastics are biodegradable. Instead, they persist as long as traditional plastics in the environment, hurting marine life in the process. This is why materials startups develop a range of biodegradable polymers as alternatives to plastics.
Italian startup Relicta creates a water-soluble, transparent, and biodegradable bioplastic solution. The startup’s bioplastic is as versatile as traditional plastics and is heat-sealable. Furthermore, it is heat shrinkable as well as resistant in humid environments, adding to its suitability for packaging solutions. Moreover, the bioplastic is compostable and degrades completely in seawater within 20 days.
PHABiO develops Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) Polymers
Many bioplastics are produced by the bacterial fermentation of biomass. PHAs, a class of such polyesters, finds wide applications as an alternative to traditional packaging plastics. By utilizing different raw materials and additives, startups create bioplastics with different properties. Moreover, the scalability of the fermentation technique makes PHAs cost-competitive.
Indian startup PHABiO develops bioplastics based on polyhydroxyalkanoates. The startup produces LENTILS pellets of polyhydroxybutyratevalerate (PHBV), a PHA-type polymer. The pellets are 100% biodegradable and customizable. They find applications in injection molding, 3D printing, as well as the development of packaging, fibers, and micro-beads.
Bioworkers offers Polylactic Acid (PLA) Bioplastics
PLA, a type of thermoplastic polymer, is another class of bioplastics produced using fermentation. It utilizes manufacturing equipment for traditional plastics, making it easier for plastic manufacturers to transition to bioplastics. While being less carbon-intensive, it delivers the same performance as conventional polymers. Due to its versatility, it finds applications in food, beverages, pharma, automotive, etc.
Bioworks is a Japanese startup that creates PLA bioplastics. The startup’s product, PlaX, is a 100% plant-derived PLA polymer. It combines PLA with a proprietary plant-based resin for high functionality. PlaX finds applications in injection molding, blow molding, as well as a fiber compound and 3D printing monofilaments. Bioworks’ plastic-based fiber possesses antibacterial and water-absorbing qualities, making it suitable for face masks and medical sutures, among others.
Biopolix creates a Bioresin
The versatility and affordability of bioresins offer a viable alternative to polyurethane-based plastics. They are more energy-efficient to manufacture, safer to dispose of, and produce far fewer emissions over their lifecycle. This is why material startups are increasingly innovating with bioresins from sources such as hemp and agricultural byproducts. Beyond plastic alternatives, bioresins also find applications in other industries, including pharma, and food.
Biopolix is a Brazilian startup developing a bioresin solution. The startup utilizes renewable biomass to create Biox001, bioresin pellets for the production of bioplastics. Using bioplastics, it creates Topical Anesthetic Bioadhesive (BAT), a biomaterial for use in dental and aesthetic use cases. Xantana Pruni, another Biopolix product, is a bacterial biopolymer for use as a thickener, stabilizer, and microencapsulator for pharma and food industries.
Plastic Move creates Bioplastics from Food Waste
Food waste often ends up in landfills where it contributes to methane emissions and toxic leachate. Utilizing it for the production of bioplastics mitigates these problems as well as lowers plastic waste. This is why startups are upcycling food waste to create biodegradable and biocompostable bioplastics. Not just the food waste, but the methane it produces, can also be diverted to the production of bioplastics.
Turkish startup Plastic Move creates bioplastics from food waste. Its patented upcycling technology converts agricultural and food waste to create a sustainable alternative to plastics. In particular, it utilizes foods such as corn and sugar beet that are high in starch. The bioplastic finds applications in packaging, automotive, and white goods industries. By rerouting waste into the economy and reducing plastic use, the startup advanced the circular economy.
Discover more Materials Startups
Materials startups such as the examples highlighted in this report focus on advanced composites, lightweighting, nanotechnology as well as smart materials. While all of these technologies play a major role in advancing the materials industry, they only represent the tip of the iceberg. To explore more materials technologies, simply get in touch to let us look into your areas of interest. For a more general overview, you can download our free Materials Innovation Report to save your time and improve strategic decision-making.
