Discover 5 Top Startups developing Plant-based Industrial Materials

Curious about new technological advancements in the materials industry? Explore our analysis of 102 global startups & scaleups and learn how their plant-based industrial materials impact your business!

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 plant-based industrial materials.

Global Startup Heat Map highlights 5 Top Plant-based Industrial Materials out of 102

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 102 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 97 plant-based industrial materials, get in touch.

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Interested in exploring all 102 plant-based industrial materials?

 

Xampla produces Plant-based Plastics Alternatives

Most manufacturing companies utilize single-use plastics for packaging products. These petroleum-based plastics are non-biodegradable and difficult to recycle. Moreover, these plastics release toxic chemicals that make their way into the food and water supply. Materials startups and scaleups are developing plant-based plastic alternatives that help industrial companies reduce their reliance on petroleum-based packaging. The alternative materials also help slow down the accumulation of non-biodegradable plastics in the environment.

Xampla is a British startup that develops and produces plant-based materials for packaging applications. The startup uses supramolecular engineered protein (SEP) technology to produce bio-based materials from plant protein. The use of plant-based raw materials makes the final product biodegradable and safe in decomposition at the same time able to meet the mechanical requirements of strength and durability. The startup thus enables industrial, agricultural, FMCG, and cosmetics companies to use the bio-based plastic alternative for packaging their products. Xampla’s material performs like synthetic polymers but decomposes naturally and fully without harming the environment.

Solugen develops Plant-based Industrial Chemicals

Various industrial chemicals such as chelating agents, scale and corrosion inhibitors, surfactants, and water clarifiers currently used are synthetic. These chemicals rely on fossil fuels for production, thus leaving a massive carbon footprint. Moreover, these chemical reactants produce byproducts during their application that pollute water sources. This is why startups are developing bio-based chemicals that are sustainable, biodegradable, and nontoxic.

Solugen is a US-based startup that develops biodegradable and sustainable chemicals for applications in agriculture, industrial cleaning, water treatment, and energy. The startup’s patented enzymatic technology converts plant sugars into hydrogen peroxide allowing inexpensive manufacturing of a wide range of chemicals. Additionally, by avoiding the use of petroleum-based chemicals, the startup’s BioPeroxide reactor is safer to operate and produces less toxic effluents than conventional hydrogen peroxide manufacturing units.

Bloom converts Natural Cellulose into Value-added Chemicals

Lignin and cellulose are among the most abundant biopolymers on Earth. But the extraction of these polymers from their natural sources has limitations due to the destabilization of lignin during the process. This is why startups and scaleups are developing techniques to extract cellulose and lignin from plants. The lignin biopolymers are useful to develop sustainable phenolic monomers that serve as raw materials for making resins used in adhesives and composites.

Bloom is a Swiss startup that produces lignin polymers and functionalized sugars from plant materials. The startup’s aldehyde-assisted fractionation (AAF) technology efficiently separates the cellulose fraction while stabilizing lignin polymer and hemicellulose-derived sugars. The startup’s technology allows for on-demand functionalization and deconstruction of a lignin polymer to yield phenolic monomers for sustainable biodegradable bioplastics. These bioplastics have excellent mechanical and barrier properties making them suitable for resins in fiber-reinforced composites. The polymer also exhibits anti-UV, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antiviral properties.

Bio Fiber provides Hemp-based Materials

The use of plant fibers as a substitute for synthetic fibers in composites and fabrics improves the sustainability and biodegradability of these products. Due to their comparable performance, plant-based materials are replacing conventional ones in structural and packaging applications across industries. However, the procurement and processing of natural fibers are still expensive and leave a carbon footprint. So, materials startups and scaleups are developing plant-fiber materials, such as hemp, using sustainable processes.

US-based startup Bio Fiber works on sustainable and regenerative processing solutions for cannabis and hemp biomass. The startup uses sustainable farming methods to grow hemp, ensuring zero carbon footprint from the onset of the product’s lifecycle. The startup’s hemp fibers enable the production of plastics that are recyclable and fully biodegradable. Bio Fiber’s hemp material is also useful to make building materials that are non-toxic and resistant to mildew, pests, and fire.

Surfact Green produces Plant-based Emulsifying Agents

Emulsions are very effective media to preserve compounds and carry out chemical processes. However, synthetic emulsifying agents are expensive, difficult to handle, and toxic. This is why startups are developing plant-based emulsifiers that are cost-effective and easier to handle. These natural emulsifiers allow companies to develop paints, coatings, and other emulsions that meet the regulatory requirements for material safety.

Surfact Green is a French startup that uses the principles of green chemistry to produce plant-based surfactants. EmulGreen is the startup’s natural cationic solution for making a wide spectrum of bitumen emulsions. The solution is readily biodegradable and applies eco-responsible processes in manufacturing. It provides good emulsification power and high adhesivity on aggregates. In comparison to the commonly used amidoamine, EmulGreen is safer for the environment with much lower ecotoxicity. DeterGreen is another product from the startup that is a biodegradable cationic surfactant for home and industrial cleaning products having low ecotoxicity. Both these products help to avoid poisoning and bodily irritation to workers while handling and preventing long-term impacts on the environment.

Discover more Materials Startups

Materials startups such as the examples highlighted in this report focus on biomaterials, plant-based materials, and bio-based polymers. 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.

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