Balena has developed an advanced biopolymer thermoplastic under the brand names BioCir® aimed at replacing persistent plastics in durable consumer goods. These materials are bio-based, fully compostable/biodegradable (industrial composting), while engineered to have performance characteristics comparable to conventional plastics (durability, flexibility, processible via extrusion/injection).
BioCir® (BioCir®Flex, BioCirX, BioCirflex3D, BioCir®Foam) is a diverse range of advanced biopolymer materials. Developed through a unique combination of high molecular weight biodegradable polymers, naturally occurring bio-based constituents, and other biodegradable modifiers. The combination of these three elements enables unparalleled functionality, high performance, and genuine circularity and is designed to replace traditional fossil-based plastics which have no environmentally safe end-of-life solution.
They have also built an “end-of-life circular” return/take-back infrastructure (“BioCycling”) to ensure the materials are composted, not landfilled.
Key markets:
- Durable consumer goods: footwear, bags, accessories where plastics dominate currently and the end-of-life issue is high.
- Fashion and lifestyle brands: collaborating with consumer brands to provide replacement materials for plastics in products.
- Packaging and injection-moulded plastics: potential to replace commodity plastics where full compostability is increasingly valued.
