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German biotech company developed a patented process to transform CO2 emissions into biodegradable polymers that can be used to manufacture sustainable plastic products

Summary

Profile Type
  • Technology offer
POD Reference
TODE20240610022
Term of Validity
10 June 2024 - 10 June 2025
Company's Country
  • Germany
Type of partnership
  • Commercial agreement with technical assistance
Targeted Countries
  • All countries
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General information

Short Summary
The innovative German biotech company developed a fermentation process to convert industrial carbon dioxide emissions (CO2) into valuable natural biopoymers that can be used to manufacture products from biodegradable plastics. In this way, the company contributes to the reduction of CO2 emissions and plastic pollution. They seek partnerships with companies that wish to develop products from bioplastics.
Full Description
The 2019 founded, German based biotech company developed and patented a fermentation process that uses industrial CO2 emissions to produce biodegradable and compostable polymers (PHA= PolyHydroxyAlkanoates). These polymers can be used to replace conventional plastics. In this way bioplastics, textiles and other products can be produced. The bioplastics produced by the company are fully biodegradable and compostable. As a result, they help to reduce plastic pollution and offer a sustainable alternative to fossil-based plastics.

PHAs are natural polyesters that can have multiple applications in various industries such as packaging, agriculture, medical, cosmetics, fibres and pharmaceuticals. They can be used for paper coating and can be blended to manufacture textiles; meanwhile, rigid PHA can be applied, for example, to the manufacture of furniture, in the automobile industry and in many other areas yet to be explored.

They have deep expertise in supporting development of products from biobased and/or biodegradable materials including compounding / blending / formulating. Besides the PHA production, the company has substantial know-how in PHA application development.

So far many application projects have been conducted, e.g. in cosmetics (biodegradable micro-beads), fashion (PHA-based fibers), injection molded parts (e.g. tree shelters) and packaging. The application development know-how builds the core for their partnership reach-out.

The German company is looking for development cooperations: They offer their expertise and innovative technology to companies that are interested in manufacturing products from biodegradable plastics. Key areas for development partnerships are cosmetics, water/waste-water, treatment, sustainable fashion, injection-molded products. Cooperation under commercial agreements with technical assistance is offered.
Advantages and Innovations
- It is the first company producing fossil-free PHA with CO2 as raw material in a pilot plant (the company owns a pilot plant that is located in Germany)
- PHA is (still) a niche biodegradable polymer with strong composting, biodegradable properties and high processing flexibility – the flexibility allows to apply in for many applications with little changes when replacing conventional plastics like PE or PP
- “Made in CO2” can be used as a marketing claim for the end product
- In the future, large-scale production will enable low costs due to the cheap raw material CO2 (competitive PHA production processes typically require more expensive organic raw materials or have higher transportation cost for the raw materials)
Stage of Development
  • Already on the market
Sustainable Development Goals
  • Goal 13: Climate Action
  • Goal 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
  • Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

Partner Sought

Expected Role of a Partner
The company is looking for development partnerships. They can support a partner who is developing a PHA-containing product.
Type: Companies or brands from the industry company developing and producing products (eg. cosmetics, water/waste-water treatment, fibres, textiles, injection-molded products)
Role: Partner is responsible for specification and production of final product
The German technology provider is responsible to provide PHA formulation in order to meet the specifications of the end product.
Type and Size of Partner
  • SME <=10
  • Other
  • SME 50 - 249
  • SME 11-49
  • Big company
Type of partnership
  • Commercial agreement with technical assistance

Dissemination

Technology keywords
  • 02007014 - Plastics, Polymers
  • 06006004 - Biopolymers
Market keywords
  • 07006 - Other Consumer Related (not elsewhere classified)
  • 08001006 - Processes for working with plastics
  • 08001001 - Plastic fabricators
  • 08001018 - Polymer (plastics) materials
  • 08001005 - Other fabricated plastics
Sector Groups Involved
  • Energy-Intensive Industries
Targeted countries
  • All countries