INO Armor

INO Armor is a startup that develops bio-based alternatives to traditional packaging and protective materials. The company's core technology is based on a patented silk-based impact absorption system, which is designed to replace expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam and other petroleum-based plastics in various applications. In addition to the Silk Pillow cycling helmet, INO Armor's product range includes alternatives for insulated protective bags and EPS foam replacements. The company has expanded its offerings to various industries, including sports technology, packaging, and impact absorption. In August 2024, INO Armor launched a biodegradable bubble wrap alternative across the US.

INO Armor’s Silk Pillow cycling helmet utilizes natural silk cocoons enclosed in a plant-based bioplastic called “polyhydroxyalkanoates” (PHA). The company claims this combination creates a lightweight, impact-absorbing material; its technology can be used in diverse applications from protective packaging to safety equipment. INO Armor reports that its products have demonstrated similar performance to—and in some cases, outperformed—traditional EPS foam in Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) impact tests. INO Armor claims its products are engineered to be fully biodegradable and compostable.

Key customers and partnerships

In April 2024, the company collaborated with Pantalones Organic Tequila, co-founded by Matthew and Camila McConaughey, to launch a home compostable protective packaging for Pantalones’ tequila to mark Earth Day 2024.

In August 2024, INO Armor partnered with SROA Capital to deploy its biodegradable bubble wrap alternative across 650 self-storage facilities in the US.