System Development/Field Test/ Commercialization

Sway has developed seaweed-based biodegradable substitutes for traditional packaging and containers. The company uses natural polymers found in seaweed to create thermoplastic seaweed resin (TPSea™), which are biobased pellets designed to replace conventional plastics. TPSea™ technology melts and stretches just like petroleum-based pellets and integrates well with plastic manufacturing systems. This technology is also the base for TPSea Flex™, a versatile film made with seaweed suited for various industries, including fashion, beauty, and food.

Keel Labs is a sustainable materials company that develops innovative materials derived from ocean resources. The main product, Kelsun™ fiber, uses seaweed due to its versatility, resilience, and ecological benefits. The production process involves extracting alginate, a biopolymer from seaweed, and combining it with proprietary additives and water to form a solution known as dope. This solution undergoes wet spinning, where polymer chains link to form fine filaments, which are then extruded into an aqueous solution and stretched to align their internal structure.

Bolt Threads is a biotechnology company that creates sustainable materials through advanced bioengineering techniques. Their innovative products cater to the textiles, skincare, hair care, and cosmetics industries. Key products include Mylo™, B-Silk Protein™, and Microsilk™. Mylo™ is a leather-like material derived from mycelium, the root structure of mushrooms. Grown in a vertical farming system powered entirely by renewable energy, mycelium matures in approximately two weeks. Post-harvest, it is processed into sheets of soft biomaterial.

Circular Systems is a material science company that transforms biowaste into valuable fiber, yarn, and textile fabrics. Texloop™ is a technology that recycles pre-  and post-consumer textile waste into a high-quality recycled cotton fabric and upgrades it into high-quality RCOT™ recycled cotton fiber.

PILI is a biotech company that produces dyes and pigments using microorganisms for applications in textiles, inks, polymers, paints, and coatings. The technology uses microbial enzymes, which are re-engineered to produce brilliant and effective dyes from renewable resources. Enzymatic synthesis allows microbes to create materials sustainably by saving energy and reducing waste without significant inputs of toxic reagents. Once enzymatic cascades are designed, large-scale production begins without toxic inputs or harmful byproducts.

Thaely is a footwear company that makes vegan and recycled shoes to address plastic waste, promote ethical practices, and support marginalized communities. The company’s sneakers are made with 100% recycled fabric and laces, recycled rubber shoes, vegan glue, and vegan detergents. Thaely sneakers are produced using innovative recycling technology to turn plastic waste into fashionable footwear. Plastic bags are sourced from Triotap Technologies, a proprietary platform developed by Thaely to transform waste plastic into ThaelyTex using simple heating.

Miraterra is a cutting-edge technology platform in soil measurement and precision fertilization. Developed by the company Terramera, this innovative platform integrates remote sensing with proximal sensing and advanced modeling techniques to offer a comprehensive approach to soil management. By combining these technologies, Miraterra reduces the cost and complexity of soil testing while increasing accuracy and minimizing uncertainty. The platform features the Digitizer, a state-of-the-art tool that enables precise and cost-effective soil analysis.

Seventh Generation is a pioneer company that specializes in eco-friendly household and personal care products made with plant-based, biodegradable ingredients and recyclable packaging materials. The company prioritizes using safe, non-toxic ingredients free from synthetic fragrances, dyes, and phosphates. All ingredients are listed on their products and website, including the environmental impacts of formulations. Many products have third-party certifications from the USDA BioPreferred Program, Leaping Bunny (for cruelty-free products), and EPA’s Safer Choice Program.

Origin Materials has developed the Origin Platform, which replaces oil as the foundational feedstock for the material economy. Woody biomass is Origin’s feedstock, which comes from agricultural waste, wood waste, and even old cardboard. The Origin platform converts C-6 cellulose into four isolated building-block chemicals in one chemo-catalytic step with almost zero carbon loss. Their catalyst is recovered and doesn’t rely on expensive sugars or fermentation.

SurfactGreen specializes in developing patented ecological surfactants derived from renewable sources for use in personal care products, household cleaners, and industrial applications. Their product lineup includes DeterGreen™ AL12, a biobased surfactant designed for detergent applications that remains stable across a wide pH range and is available in a liquid form with a medium transparent color. Comprising 96% renewable carbon and being readily biodegradable, DeterGreen™ AL12 serves as an effective ingredient for household, industrial, and institutional formulations.