Bio-based Materials

Earth-friendly biotech solutions for the textile, packaging and construction industries.

Overview

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.

Industry Updates

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Market Sizing

The US Bio-based Materials market could reach USD 0.8 billion–2.2 billion by 2027

Conservative case

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Base case

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Market Mapping


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.

Incumbents
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Minimum Viable Product
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Bio-based leather
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Bio-based textile materials
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Bio-based packaging materials
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Bio-based industrial materials
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Biotechnologies
Biotechnologies
Biotechnologies
Biotechnologies

The Disruptors


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.

Funding History

Competitive Analysis


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Product Overview
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Company profile
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Incumbents


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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Notable Investors


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Overview

Bio-based materials have applications in a wide range of consumer and industrial products

In response to consumer demand, 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, enabled by recent R&D-driven advances and resultant products and processes.      
Bio-based materials can refer to any end products in consumer goods and industrial sectors that are bio-based and have a minimal negative impact on the environment and society regarding the production process, usage, and disposal. 
To summarize, bio-based materials are:
  • Sustainably sourced: The extraction of the material does not deplete the Earth of its natural resources and workers are treated well. 
  • Biodegradable: The materials can naturally decompose through microbial activity, transforming into harmless byproducts like water, carbon dioxide, and organic matter.
  • Low impact: Minimal environmental impact throughout the product lifecycle
  • Economical: The material can be produced at a cost that makes it feasible for large markets and high demand.
  • Quality of life: The materials should not harm the consumer. 
  • The Three R’s: Renewable, reusable, and resilient. Materials should be replenishable, recyclable, or long-lasting, and strong and hard.
Companies in this industry largely incorporate at least two of the above elements to create products that do not harm consumers, workers, or the environment.
However, a combination of funding constraints, a lack of scale, and limited traction has prevented even the industry’s most highly funded startups from winning significant market share.
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