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 materials startups advancing the forest bioeconomy.
Out of 586, the Global Startup Heat Map highlights 5 Top Materials Startups advancing the Forest Bioeconomy
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 586 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 581 materials startups advancing the forest bioeconomy, get in touch.
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Hardera produces Sustainable Hardwood
Wood is the most common forestry product and the demand for it continues to grow. Even though sustainable agroforestry solutions alleviate some of the concerns around deforestation, hardwood trees take a long time to grow. Softwood trees grow faster, but do not offer similar strength and durability. This is why startups are leveraging advances in materials sciences to create hardwood alternatives from softwood.
US-based startup Hardera develops a wood treatment technology to transform softwood into hardwood. The startup’s technology removes hemicellulose from wood and makes cellulose fibers more interconnected and hydrophobic. This makes its line of hardwood products resistant to water damage as well as increases mechanical strength. For furniture manufacturers, the startup’s solutions offer a sustainable and more durable alternative to existing hardwood.
Biofiber Tech offers Wood Fiber as a Plastic Alternative
Wood, like all forestry biomass, is rich in cellulose. Startups use cellulose from wood fiber to create paper, packaging, and even pharmaceutical ingredients. Recent developments in the materials industry open up even more applications of wood fiber. For instance, some startups are using it to reinforce plastics as well as to create alternatives to plastics.
Swedish startup Biofiber Tech produces wood fiber as a plastic alternative. The startup’s technology modifies wood fibers, imparting upon them plastic-like properties. The process adapts to existing infrastructure, allowing manufacturers to easily transition from fossil-based polymers to wood fibers. The startup also enables fiber producers and compounders to produce wood-based fibers and bio-granulates, respectively.
Pure Biofuel provides Biofuel Briquettes
Power plants still use coal as a fuel source but are increasingly looking for more sustainable alternatives. Forestry biomass is cleaner but bulky to transport. This is why bioeconomy startups compress forestry and agro biomass into briquettes. These are compressed pieces of biomass that provide high thermal calorific value, suited for efficient bioenergy production.
Pure Biofuel is a UK-based startup that provides wood pellets and biofuels. Its range of biofuel briquettes comprises both forestry and agricultural biomass, including wood, hemp, and husk. These offer variable ash and moisture content as well as suit different commercial boiler systems. The startup’s products provide high efficiency of biofuel production and the leftover residue is suitable as a plant fertilizer.
Vataset Industries manufactures Dissolving Pulp
Another forestry product, dissolving pulp, finds applications in the manufacture of textiles, cellophane, and specialty chemicals. However, the conversion of wood to dissolving pulp is currently inefficient. Consequently, the increase in demand for dissolving pulp is increasing deforestation in many regions. To address this, startups are developing new biorefinery solutions that improve the sustainability and energy efficiency of dissolving pulp production.
Vataset Industries is a Finnish startup that operates a biorefinery producing specialty products. It manufactures dissolving pulp for use in textiles and fabrics. The startup’s dissolving pulp serves as a sustainable alternative to cotton as well as artificial fibers. Other products of the biorefinery include long-fiber pulp, digestible pulp, sugars, and tallol, along with clean, renewable bioenergy.
Advanced BioCarbon 3D develops Biodegradable Bioplastics
Most traditional bioplastics are crop-based and scaling up their production diverts agricultural land from food crops. This is why material startups are investigating alternative biomass sources for bioplastic production. Some of these include forestry biomass, marine biomass, and organic waste. As an added benefit, producing bioplastics from forestry biomass is also more carbon-negative compared to the utilization of crops.
Canadian startup Advanced BioCarbon 3D creates non-toxic and biodegradable plastics. The startup’s closed-loop process transforms wood biomass into bioplastics without generating waste. Beyond being circular, the startup’s fibers are non-flammable and resistant to moisture and chemicals. Among other use cases, this makes bioplastic fibers a sustainable and durable product for the 3D printing filament market.
Discover more Materials Startups
Materials startups such as the examples highlighted in this report focus on sustainable forestry management and biodegradable materials, as well as plastic alternatives and bio-based 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.
