Consumers worldwide are demanding more sustainable packaging, clothing, energy, food, and almost everything else available today.
Rising consumer education and awareness around climate change, corporate accountability, and policy support from governments and international policy bodies all contribute to this movement.
In response, a new wave of companies is working to supply brands with renewable and bio-based materials that help maintain equilibrium between businesses, the environment, and key natural resources.
Most industry players rely on biotechnological processes to produce these materials, which have been enabled by recent R&D-driven advances and resultant products and processes.
We break down the Bio-based materials industry into different types of materials derived using bio-based sources. We looked at companies innovating new types of sustainable alternatives to leather, along with innovations in materials used in textile, packaging and industrial applications. Each segment represents a wide range of products given a broad diversity of materials and processes employed by competing firms. The segments involved in bio-based leather materials leads in terms of funding and the commercialization of products relative to other textile materials.
While the startups profiled in this report engage in a great variety of processes and inputs, some overlaps exist between businesses within the different Bio-based Materials segments.
Within the bio-based leather market, the most highly-funded startups as of July 2021 are Bolt Threads, Modern Meadow, and Ecovative Design. These companies derive a form of vegan leather from natural materials such as mycelium, algae, yeast, and other plant-based sources. However, this segment also includes listed disruptor Spinnova and Allbirds, which reportedly filed for an initial public offering in June 2021 and was expected to go public by September 2021.
Regarding bio-based packaging materials, Origin Materials, Ecovative Design, and Anellotech are the most highly funded startups. Origin Materials agreed to merge with a publicly traded special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) in February 2021, a transaction that resulted in Origin Materials going public at a USD 1.8 billion valuation. This segment focuses on bioplastics and other biodegradable materials for packaging and single-use plastic applications.
Industry incumbents cover a wide range of products and applications, from fabrics, shoes, and cosmetics to industrial uses. Some of these firms have also recognized the importance of embedding a sustainable partner or business within their value chains.
Most of these companies have entered the industry by acquiring smaller companies focused on sustainability to gain more control over their supply chains. Other major companies, such as Adidas, Aquafil, and Foss, have developed bio-based material businesses in-house.
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