Bioplastic from Waste: Advancing to Pre-Pilot Scale Production

Demonstrating technical feasibility, process reproducibility, and economics of a vertically integrated biomanufacturing platform.

The Opportunity

The global bioplastics market is valued at $19.7B and projected to reach $35.4B by 2028, growing at a 10.3% CAGR. Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are the fastest-growing segment. The total addressable market spans pharma, food processing, and dairy waste producers, estimated at approximately $50B. Industrial organic waste management costs producers between $50 and $300 per tonne. Launch’s platform addresses both sides: it reduces disposal costs while converting waste into a high-value product.

The Challenge

Launch’s VFA-to-PHA conversion platform has been demonstrated at 6L with a 10 g/L yield. Reaching the target of 100 g/L at 100L pre-pilot scale requires significant process optimization. Existing bioplastics remain 5 to 10 times more expensive than petroleum-based alternatives. Demonstrating favourable unit economics at scale is critical before commercial partnerships can be secured.

NPC’s Solution

NPC’s Proof of Concept Program is supporting Launch Bioindustries in advancing production capacity to a pre-pilot scale. The project will demonstrate the technical feasibility, process reproducibility, and economics of their vertically integrated biomanufacturing platform, which transforms industrial organic waste into compostable bioplastic products using proprietary polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) production microbes. NPC is committed to the creation of natural products that are better for people, animals, and the planet. They propel early-stage Canadian innovators with the advice, connections, and capital needed to rapidly develop, validate, and scale transformative solutions.