Top 96 Startups developing Bioplastic and other Recyclable Materials

Dec 03, 2024 | By Marjana Bačić

Startups, developing sustainable, recycable materials that can replace plastic and other difficult-to-recycle materials.
1
Country: USA
Utopia Plastix is a plant based alternative polymer using what is traditionally known as agricultural cover crops. Pelletized resins are a drop in replacement used in vast applications including blown film, blow molding, thermoforming, extrusion, injection molding, and 3D without equipment modifications. 100% recyclable. Degradable. Compostable. Utopias IP also includes the ability to add their material to petroleum-based plastics to make them eco-friendly.
2
Country: France | Funding: €23.6M
Lactips created a water soluble and biodegradable thermoplastic pellets based on casein, a milk protein. They can be used to make a variety of packaging materials including food.
3
Country: Netherlands | Funding: $279.7M
Avantium's YXY plants-to-plastics technology catalytically converts plant-based fructose syrup from corn and wheat sugars into PEF (polyethylene furanoate).
4
Country: UK | Funding: £36.4M
Notpla wants to replace all single use plastics for material made of seaweed and plants. As it is made of seaweed and plants, Notpla is a very malleable product, perfect to store beverages, sauces and food in general.
5
Country: USA | Funding: $875M
Eastman is a global specialty chemicals company that produces a range of advanced materials and chemicals.
6
Country: USA | Funding: $855.8M
Solugen makes chemicals from custom enzymes and renewable feedstock. It uses dextrose, a simple sugar, and in the future it aims to convert carbon into useful products like building materials and formaldehyde-free resins.
7
Country: USA | Funding: $340.3M
Genomatica manufactures sustainable chemicals from renewable feedstocks.
8
Country: Israel | Funding: $240.1M
The UBQ proprietary process converts Residual Municipal Solid Waste, destined to landfills, into novel bio-based UBQ Material, that can be used to make everyday durable products - with a reduced carbon footprint.
9
Country: USA | Funding: $231.6M
Newlight Technologies uses decarbonization technology dedicated to converting greenhouse gas into biomaterials.
10
Country: Japan | Funding: ¥22.6B
TBM is specializing in developing, manufacturing, and distributing LIMEX, an innovative new material mainly made from limestone and inorganic materials.
11
Country: USA | Funding: $200M
Origin Materials created bio-based plastic bottles containing 80% renewable materials like cardboard and sawdust. Half of its capital investment to date has come from major food corporates like Nestle and Danone.
12
Country: USA | Funding: $172.7M
Agilyx created a solutions platform that can take a wide variety of waste plastics and polymers, and chemically recycle those plastics into high value synthetic oils, chemicals and in some cases back to basic monomers that can be used to re-manufacture products.
13
Country: USA | Funding: $171M
Renmatix focuses on the production of cellulosic sugars from plant-based feedstocks for the improvement of bio-primarily based materials.
14
Country: Israel | Funding: $130M
TIPA manufactures bio-based, fully compostable packaging for the food and fashion industry. It compares its packaging material to orange peel, decomposing in 180 days in compost conditions.
15
Country: USA | Funding: $121.1M
Ecovative Design is a biomaterials company that makes biodegradable packaging from mushrooms
16
Country: USA | Funding: $95M
Biomason is a developer of a building materials technology that employs natural microorganisms to grow bio cement in ambient temperatures.
17
Country: USA | Funding: $91M
CleanFiber is a construction manufacturing company that makes building insulation from recycled corrugated cardboard.
18
Country: Japan | Funding: ¥10.8B
Elephantech wants to create circuit boards that are kinder to the environment
19
Country: USA | Funding: $55M
Brimstone Energy is producing mass-market, zero-carbon Portland cement, a key building material.
20
Country: USA | Funding: $54.4M
VitroLabs develops a platform that manufactures real leather using stem cell-based technologies.
Editor: Marjana Bačić
Marjana Bačić is a senior editor for RecyclingStartups. She has has more than 5 years experience covering the recycling industry. Marjana graduated from University of Belgrade, where she edited Recycling and Sustainable Development Journal. She has helped several non-profit organizations dedicated to promoting environmental education and sustainability. She also participates in beach clean-up initiatives and advocates for sustainable practices in local businesses. In her free time, Marjana enjoys hiking in the scenic Montenegrin countryside, practicing yoga for mindfulness, and experimenting with plant-based recipes in her kitchen. You can contact Marjana at marjanabacic(at)recyclingstartups(dot)com