Kaneka produce bio-based and biodegradable polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) as Green Planet. It is suitable for a range of applications include foam packaging, disposable cutlery, single use packaging and reusable food packaging (such as these in-flight meal container served on JAL’s international flights). The colour of the container comes from natural minerals, which means that both materials and colour additive are fossil-free. Image Kaneka.

Huue are developing a process that use specially engineered bacteria to convert natural sugars into indigo dye. By mimicking the natural processes used by plants to create colour, they are able to produce indigo without the use of hazardous chemistry or petroleum-derived ingredients. Image Huue.

Kintra polybutylene succinate (PBS), bio-based and biodegradable polyester fibre, is produced from the fermentation of sugars derived from wheat and corn. PBS is tuneable and can be spun on the same equipment used for polyester (PET). While its performance is similar to polyester and nylon, it biodegrades in industrial composting environments. Image Kintra.

Nanollose produce a tree-free lyocell regenerated cellulose fibre called Nullarbor. Unlike conventional regenerated cellulose fibre, Nullarbor is produced using microbes that convert waste products into microbial cellulose. This provides the raw material for lyocell fibre production. Image Nanollose.

Samsara Eco have developed an almost closed loop process that uses enzymes to attack plastic waste and revert it to its original chemical building blocks. These monomers can be used to make new plastics without any loss of quality. So far they have developed this depolymerisation technique for polyamide (PA), nylon, and polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyester. Image Samsara Eco.

Pili are developing a cell factory that uses an enzyme based process to convert sugars into colour, using a technique similar to fermenting beer. The genes for each enzyme are integrated into bacteria or other microorganism. These bacteria are grown in water-based bioreactors, using sugar as their main food source. This process requires no fossil fuels and no toxic inputs, and produces no harmful byproducts, making the bacterial biofactories both highly efficient and non-polluting. At the end of the process the pigment is separated by filtration. Image Pili.

AirCarbon polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), biodegradable polyester is produced by Newlight Technologies. They use a novel catalytic process based on microorganisms from the ocean. These microorganisms take oxygen from the air and carbon and hydrogen from methane and CO2, and combine these into molecules that make up PHB polymer. Image Newlight Technologies.

The Virent Bioforming process converts carbohydrate rich feedstocks, such as sugar beet and sugar cane, into bio-based hydrocarbons that can be used as the building blocks for plastics. The bio-based chemistry uses catalytic conversation to provide a drop-in replacement for petroleum derived products in the production of plastic like polyester (PET), nylon (PA) and polyurethane (PUR). Applications range from packaging and moulded products to textiles and films. Image Virent.

Faux fur made using Spiber‘s Brewed Protein bioplastic. This material is produced by genetically engineered microbes in a fermentation process exactly like brewing beer. It has already been used in textiles for fashion and automotive interiors, and has huge potential as a bio-based alternative to fibres derived from animals, petrochemicals and plants. Image Spiber.

Brewed Protein by Spiber includes fibres, films, and other types of protein-based materials that are manufactured through fermentation (brewing) of plant-based ingredients. Sugars obtained from agricultural products such as sugarcane and corn provide the main feedstock. The finished materials are bio-based, non-toxic and biodegradable in soil and marine environments. Applications include textiles, fashion, garments, faux fur, films and packaging. Image Spiber.

Modern Meadow produce a synthetic leather they call Bio-Vera using a mix of recycled and bio-based ingredients. The scaffold structure is created with recycled car tyres. This is infused with Bio-Alloy, which is a mix of plant-based proteins and bio-polyurethane (PUR). A soy-based coating (Bio-Alloy Shield) provides the waterproof and breathable top layer. Image Modern Meadow.

Even though still in the lab, Galy promise their lab-grown Literally Cotton will be less susceptible to weather and environmental influences, in stable quantities and at stable prices. Instead of harvesting plants, the cells are grown in bioreactor in a process similar to beer brewing. Galy claim their cotton grows ten times faster than conventional cotton, in a process that uses 77% less water, 80% less land and emits 84% less CO2 than traditional cotton manufacturing. Image Galy.

Colorifix dyeing technology uses a bio-based process to grow, deposit and fix colour onto textile. A colour target provides the reference for online DNA sequencing, which is inserted into a non-pathogenic microbe. Using renewable feedstocks such as sugars, yeasts, and plant by-products, they grow these genetically modified microorganisms to produce the desired colour. It is transferred onto textiles and fibres using conventional dyeing equipment, but with zero harmful substances and a fraction of the water and energy necessary in conventional dyeing. Since its founding in 2016, they have bought many colours to market including indigos, mauves, pastels and beiges. Image Colorifix.

Vivomer by Shellworks is made with the fat of microorganisms found in the soil and sea. The microbes are grown and fermented to produce polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), biodegradable polyester. Once used, Vivomer is easily metabolised by these same microbes so that it can be thrown away like ordinary food waste. Image Haeckels.

VitroLabs is a biotech company developing a scalable tissue engineering platform for the production of leather in a lab. The goal is to produce cell cultivated leather that achieves the look, feel and performance of traditional leather without compromise. Image VitroLabs.

Soleic partially bio-based and biodegradable polyurethane resin (bio-PUR) by Algenesis. The monomers are created from algae oil and engineered to biodegrade. Currently 52% bio-based, there is development ongoing to increase this to 98%. Image Algenesis.

Procel by Natural Material Studio is handmade from protein-based bioplastic, mixed with softening agents, pigments and additives. Here it is used as hanging screens in the Åben brewery restaurant, Copenhagen, made with waste from the Åben brewing process that takes place just down the road.

Phact is an amorphous polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), a biodegradable polyester produced by CJ Biomaterials, that is suitable for food contact applications including rigid and flexible packaging, food serviceware and other products. Amorphous PHA is relatively soft and rubbery, offering fundamentally different performance characteristics than crystalline or semi-crystalline forms of the biopolymer. It is a bio-based material that is certified for industrial and home compost, soil biodegradable and marine biodegradable. When combined with other bioplastics, such as polylactic acid (PLA), it enhances the biodegradability and compostability of products. Image CJ Biomaterials.

MicroSilk by Bolt Threads is a regenerated protein-based fibre that mimics spider silk. It is made through a process of fermenting water, yeast and sugar with spider DNA. The liquid protein is passed through spinnerets and spun into fibres the same way as acrylic and rayon are made. Image Bolt Threads.

Mango Materials bio-based polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) biodegradable polyester provides an alternative to fossil-based synthetics in fashion, textiles and injection moulded products. They are pioneering a process with YOPP+ to convert excess methane into PHA. Image Mango Materials.

Malai coconut leather is produced through bacterial fermentation of waste coconut water, a byproduct of coconut production. The bacterial cellulose that develops is enriched with natural fibres (banana, sisal, hemp), gums and resins to create a durable and flexible material which is converted into flat sheet or 3D parts. It is coloured with plant-based mordant-free dyes. Plant extracts like indigo, madder, cutch or marigold petals are used in order to achieve the colour. It is plastic-free, vegan and home compostable. Image Malai.

EcoFlexy by Cellugy is a cellulose product made through bacterial fermentation of sugar from vegetable waste from agriculture. It has potential as a coating on paper and textiles to enhance properties for packaging applications, for example, such as providing a fossil-free, compostable and recyclable waterproof barrier. Image Cellugy.

Biopure bio-recycled polyester by Protein Evolution is made from rigid packaging waste and industrial textile strappings. Protein Evolution uses AI-designed enzymes to break down polyester (PET) waste into the raw materials of new polyester that are indistinguishable to the petroleum-derived raw materials used in polyester manufacturing. The process is capable of handling a variety of waste streams, from plastic bottles and clam-shells, to industrial textiles and garments. Image Stella McCartney.

Biomason biocement is made with calcium carbonate (CaCO3) produced by microorganisms and provides an alternative to Portland cement. Through a process of microbiologically induced calcium carbonate precipitation (MICP), microorganisms react with chemical components to produce minerals suitable as binding agents. As well as having potential as a building material, it is used for reinforcing soils, such as is important for transport infrastructure and sea defences. As an example, Biolith is a precast product consisting of approximately 85% natural aggregate and 15% biocement material. Image Biomason.

BioBasedTiles by Front (formerly StoneCycling) made with Biomason biocement. With good strength to weight, they offer a low-carbon alternative to Portland cement pre-cast products. Image Front.