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Executive Summary: Which are the Top 10+ Antimicrobial Packaging Startups to Watch?

    1. The Gate Plastic Industries LLC (UAE) – produces antibacterial trash bags with integrated d2w-based biodegradability.
    2. Namalab (Mexico) – develops NamaSAP, a plant-based compostable superabsorbent polymer with built-in antibacterial properties.
    3. MAAK IMPEX (India) – applies antiviral coatings with quaternary silane compounds to boxes and pallets.
    4. Clean Market Bag (Canada) – offers antimicrobial produce bags made from Manila hemp.
    5. HUID (UK) – repurposes onion skins into antimicrobial fiber-based packaging materials.
    6. Phiex Technologies (USA) – delivers light- and moisture-activated pathogen-protective films.
    7. Sanidrink (Italy) – creates antimicrobial tubular packaging and coatings via eco-friendly surface treatments.
    8. Kitocoat (Sweden) – produces chitosan-based edible coatings that serve as biodegradable protective layers for fresh produce.
    9. Nanosafe (India) – embeds micro-copper particles in flexible packaging films.
    10. Chitozan Health (USA) – offers Silusan, a natural silver-chitosan film coating effective against bacteria and viruses.
    11. Salt Athletic (USA) – markets Aērcase, an antimicrobial sports bag with silver mesh and activated carbon.
    12. Ace Sharps (Australia) – builds Protect+ sharps disposal units with antimicrobial surfaces.
    13. Terralign Solutions (Canada) – provides DENBA+, an electrostatic wave-based preservation system.

Global Startup Heat Map highlights Emerging Antimicrobial Packaging Startups to Watch

Through the Big Data & Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered StartUs Insights Discovery Platform, covering over 7M+ startups, 20K+ technology trends plus 150M+ patents, news articles & market reports, we identified 100+ antimicrobial packaging startups.

The Global Startup Heat Map below highlights emerging antimicrobial packaging startups you should watch in 2026, as well as the geo-distribution of 100+ startups & scaleups we analyzed for this research.

According to our data, we observe high startup activity in Western Europe and the United States, followed by India. The top 5 Startup Hubs for antimicrobial packaging are New York City, Bangalore, Gurgaon, Dubai, and London.

 

 

Meet Emerging Antimicrobial Packaging Startups to Watch in 2026

We hand-picked startups to showcase in this report by filtering for their technology, founding year, location, funding, and other metrics. These emerging antimicrobial packaging startups work on solutions ranging from anti-bacterial trash bags and antiviral coatings to edible coatings and protective films.

1. The Gate Plastic Industries

The Gate Plastic Industries uses chemical additives to produce antibacterial trash bags. This solution integrates an antimicrobial agent during production, which limits bacterial growth on the bag surface.

Moreover, the bags retain normal strength during use and incorporate d2w-based additives that trigger biodegradability in a short time after disposal, thus reducing plastic persistence and microplastic formation.

The antibacterial trash bags inhibit the growth of bacteria, mold, algae, fungi, and yeast from food refuse. It lowers odor and reduces the risk of infections. The startup offers a practical, hygienic, and environmentally responsible option for routine waste management.

2. Namalab

  • Founding Year: 2023
  • Location: Guadalajara, Mexico
  • Use For: Sustainable Superabsorbent Polymer
  • Startup Stage: Pre-seed/Early-stage

Namalab produces a plant-based, compostable, high-performance superabsorbent polymer (SAP) for food packaging and hygiene applications. It integrates natural antibacterial agents into NamaSAP to enable moisture control and microbial inhibition in a single layer.

This solution is a drop-in replacement for synthetic polyacrylate-based superabsorbents, which remain non-compostable and generate microplastics. Moreover, this biopolymer decomposes under industrial composting conditions, thereby reducing post-use environmental waste.

NamaSAP allows brands and manufacturers to extend the shelf-life of food, without compromising safety and sustainability. It supports regulatory compliance and operational continuity across food supply chains.

3. MAAK IMPEX

  • Founding Year: 2021
  • Location: Bangalore, India
  • Use For: Antiviral Coating for Boxes
  • Startup Stage: Prototype

MAAK IMPEX provides antiviral coating for packaging surfaces. Due to the quaternary silane compounds, the coating forms a cationic layer that removes viruses and bacteria on contact.

The startup applies this technology to packaging materials like paper, wood, and corrugated board used in boxes and pallets. Therefore, the coating remains effective for the entire lifespan of the treated surface.

However, this solution does not alter the visual appearance or mechanical strength of the material. Moreover, the coating reduces surface-based transmission risks during handling, transport, and storage.

This enhances hygiene in sectors with high-contact packaging, including food, pharmaceuticals, and manufacturing.

4. Clean Market Bag

  • Founding Year: 2024
  • Location: Ontario, Canada
  • Use For: Manila Hemp Plant Bag
  • Startup Stage: Seed
  • Major Clients: Holiday Inn, Staybridge Suites, Barrie’s Asparagus

Clean Market Bag specializes in antimicrobial packaging made of Manila hemp, a natural fiber derived from the Abacá plant, to store fruits and vegetables. It produces reusable bags that contain inherent antibacterial and UV-resistant properties to eliminate the need for chemical treatments.

Moreover, the material is biodegradable, compostable, and does not release microplastics. Further, the bags are washable and suitable for repeated use, thereby reducing waste and lowering total packaging costs over time.

This allows businesses to minimize single-use plastics and meet consumer and ESG expectations. Clean Market Bag offers a low-impact packaging option that addresses hygiene, durability, and sustainability in food and supply chain operations.

5. HUID

  • Founding Year: 2021
  • Location: Oban, United Kingdom
  • Use For: Antimicrobial Packaging Made of Onion Skin
  • Funding: Secured GBP 150 000 from Innovate UK
  • Startup Stage: Pre-seed
  • Prominent Partners & Funders: University of Strathclyde Advanced Materials Research Laboratory, Scottish Edge Young, Impact Central

HUID provides antimicrobial packaging materials made from onion skins that slow microbial growth and extend food shelf life. The startup upcycles onion waste through food-grade processing methods that preserve the natural antimicrobial and protective properties of the raw material.

Further, it produces a card-like material fully made from onion skin fibres as an alternative to wood fibre paper for secondary packaging products, using gentle, food-grade processing reagents.

Moreover, this fiber blends easily with other fibres, like flax, recycled wood pulp, and cotton, without compromising strength. The startup serves food producers, packaging manufacturers, and retailers seeking bio-based packaging alternatives.

6. Phiex Technologies

  • Founding Year: 2020
  • Location: USA

Phiex Technologies offers a pathogen-protective film. It activates upon exposure to ambient light or moisture without requiring pre-conditioning based on heat, pressure, or humidity. This allows for applications across industries like medical devices, food safety, and defense. Phiex Technologies thus enables products to remain sterile and protected under diverse environmental conditions, enhancing product safety.

7. Sanidrink

  • Founding Year: 2021
  • Location: Italy

Sanidrink develops antimicrobial technology to improve food and biomedical safety. It utilizes nature-inspired, safe, and non-toxic methods to combat microbial contamination effectively. The company’s technology involves surface functionalization with antimicrobial molecules and ensures a broad spectrum of action against pathogens and biofilm formation. This offers high stability and aligns with environmental conservation goals. Sanidrink’s solutions are suited for applications in reusable water bottles and medical devices to reduce microbial growth.

8. Kitocoat

  • Founding Year: 2022
  • Location: Sweden

Kitocoat reduces food waste and eliminates the need for plastic packaging by providing a biodegradable, edible product that extends the shelf life of fruits and vegetables. It uses chitosan, a derivative of chitin found in crustaceans’ exoskeletons, to create a protective, edible, and biodegradable coating. Chitosan mimics crustaceans’ natural defense mechanisms against environmental stressors to resist moisture, heat, and microbial growth.

9. Nanosafe

  • Founding Year: 2019
  • Location: India

Nanosafe provides antimicrobial active copper technology that synthesizes copper into micro-size particles. This technology offers protection against bacteria, viruses, fungi, and algae by integrating into materials like plastics, textiles, and coatings. Since the technology uses copper, it is safe for human contact and the environment, unlike silver-based antimicrobials. Its applications include flexible films for food wrapping and personal care products.

10. Chitozan Health

  • Founding Year: 2018
  • Location: USA

Chitozan Health develops advanced antimicrobial technologies for the packaging and textile industries. Its silver chitosan formula offers strong antimicrobial protection to reduce bacterial and fungal growth. The company’s Silusan is an antimicrobial packaging film coating that uses natural polymers and a minute amount of silver, ensuring no detectable silver ion release. This technology is effective against a range of harmful microorganisms, including viruses such as SARS-CoV-2 and bacteria like MRSA.

11. Salt Athletic

  • Founding Year: 2018
  • Location: USA

Salt Athletic offers Aērcase, an antimicrobial packaging solution for the athletic community. It utilizes smell-proof technology to eliminate bacteria and odor from athletic gear. The bag features silver and military-grade activated carbon to kill bacteria and absorb moisture. Silver ions released by the silver-coated mesh target the odors. The activated carbon, with a vast surface area, increases moisture absorption and odor control, offering a hygienic environment for athletes.

12. Ace Sharps

  • Founding Year: 2019
  • Location: Australia

Ace Sharps manufactures secure sharps disposal containers for healthcare facilities. Its Protect+ container provides antimicrobial protection to reduce cross-contamination. Bacteria and viruses are effectively neutralized on contact, making Protect+ ideal for maintaining high hygiene standards in healthcare settings. It also features a larger aperture, automatic tilting tray, and clear fill-level indication window. Healthcare providers use Protect+ to improve infection control and enable sustainable waste management.

13. Terralign Solutions

  • Founding Year: 2022
  • Location: Canada

Terralign Solutions provides DENBA+, a food preservation system. It prolongs food freshness by activating water molecules using electrostatic waves. This improves refrigeration, supercooling, and freezing, thus preventing ice formation between 0°C and -4°C. The technology also inhibits bacterial growth and reduces food oxidation to deliver chemical-free preservation. DENBA+, in turn, allows logistics and cold chain companies to enhance the freshness, appearance, and taste of perishable products.

Discover All Emerging Antimicrobial Packaging Startups

The 10+ antimicrobial packaging startups showcased in this report are only a small sample of all startups we identified through our data-driven startup scouting approach. Download our free Industry Innovation Reports for a broad overview of the industry or get in touch for quick & exhaustive research on the latest technologies & emerging solutions that will impact your company in 2026!