Creating packaging from forestry waste.

How an ‘old’ technology creates earth-friendly plastics

The Opportunity

The global challenge of single-use plastics continues to escalate, with 430 million tons produced annually. As regulatory pressures and consumer demand for sustainable solutions intensify, Bioform stands at the forefront of the shift toward a plastic-free world. Their innovative biobased materials not only reduce CO₂ emissions by up to 80% compared to traditional plastics but also match their performance, processing speed, and cost-effectiveness.

The Challenge

Sustainable alternatives to single-use plastics are urgently needed but are often expensive and difficult to produce in large quantities. Bioform addresses this issue by repurposing existing pulp machinery to create biobased materials that mimic the functionality of plastics. These new materials are compostable or recyclable with paper, offering a more eco-friendly option. Their technology is designed to be both cost-effective and high-performing, achieving parity with traditional plastics. This approach helps overcome the economic and technical barriers to scaling sustainable solutions. 

NPC’s Solution

NPC provided Bioform with $75,000 to help them hire a key addition to their team. The new colloidal chemist addressed critical elements of the surface quality of their plastics to ensure they could meet the moisture barrier requirements of various industries. The resulting data informed key technical and design specifications, bringing them closer to production capacities needed for industry. Their progress attracted the interest of a key corporate investor from the pulp and paper industry, Suzano Ventures.