Our
members

SONICHEM Sonichem, a biorefinery technology company, is pioneering ultrasonic technology to advance green chemical production. Our proprietary process efficiently transforms low-value forestry by-products into high-value, sustainable bio-based chemicals. Specialising in the production of lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulose sugars, we offer viable bio-sourced alternatives to traditional petrochemicals with diverse applications in materials, resins, personal care, and cosmetics. Demonstrated at our industrial-scale pilot plant, Sonichem is actively preparing to scale operations to a commercial biorefinery, driving the shift towards sustainable chemical solutions.

TIPA Sustainable Packaging was founded in 2010 to create viable compostable, flexible packaging options. TIPA’s vision is for flexible packaging to have the same end-of-life organic matter has, while also offering consumers and brands the same durability, transparency and shelf life they have come to expect from conventional plastics. Even though the volume of flexible packaging is smaller by weight and space, most flexible packaging cannot be practically recycled. Flexible packaging isn’t made of pure plastic polymers but rather made by blending several materials. These blended materials make flexible packaging complicated for separation and recycling.

TOTAL CORBION is a global leader in marketing, sales and production of Polylactic Acid (PLA). PLA is a biobased and biodegradable polymer made from annually renewable resources, offering a reduced carbon footprint versus many traditional plastics. The Luminy® PLA portfolio, which includes both high heat and standard PLA grades, is an innovative material that is used in a wide range of markets including fresh food packaging, consumer goods, fibers, food service ware and 3D-printing.

TÜV AUSTRIA GROUP is a leading independent Testing, Inspection and Certification company covering industry, energy, infrastructure, transportation, certification, training and digital services with +2.000 experts in +20 countries. On 1 December 2017, TÜV AUSTRIA Group integrated the OK compost and OK biobased conformity marks and certification activities into the newly founded subsidiary TÜV AUSTRIA Belgium. With a team of nearly 20 specialists fully dedicated to assessment and certification of compostable and/or bio-based products, TÜV AUSTRIA promotes, through its internationally recognised marks of conformity, the harmonisation of definitions, standards and testing methods to ensure clear and universal statements based on measurable facts.

TWIG is a bioengineering company. And we’re here to change the future of consumer goods with AI defined sustainable ingredients that don’t cost the earth. At twig, we believe that bioengineering is the solution to our dependence on unsustainable ingredients. Our business involves the rapid creation of bio-based synthetic chemicals, leveraging our twig:tech platform to engineer and optimise the highest performing strains for commercialisation. Our automated lab means we can analyse tens of thousands of bacterial strains each week, without human bias. Our focus is to create and commercialise ingredients, which are more sustainable than the use of fossil fuel derived and the over-farmed and environmentally damaging incumbents.

UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER is a powerhouse of research and is ranked first in Europe and second in the world for social and environmental impact (Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2023). Sitting within the University is the Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Catalyst (IBIC), which supports and connects the Northwest of England as a world-leading ecosystem to deliver a transformative bioeconomy. IBIC offers partners access to cutting-edge R&D knowledge, capabilities, talent and facilities. We support our community with skills-training, finance, and business advice so they can realise success. IBIC is led by the University of Manchester, in partnership with the Universities of Liverpool, Salford and Manchester Metropolitan, leading SMEs and corporate businesses, regional R&D organisations, accelerators, investors, and specialist skills providers, united by a culture of ethics, diversity, and openness and drive to deliver a R&D intensive bioeconomy.

The Grantham Centre for Sustainable Futures is a collaboration between the Grantham Foundation for the Protection of the Environment and The University of Sheffield. We bring experts from academia, business, policy and the voluntary sector together to create a sustainable future.

UNIVERSITY OF YORK is a world class university with significant expertise in bioeconomy research, and host two of the BBSRC Networks in Industrial Biotechnology and Bioenergy, Biomass Biorefinery Network (BBNet) and High Value Biorenewables Network (HVB), which support research and translation in sustainable, biologically based manufacturing.

VEGWARE is the UK’s first and only completely compostable food packaging firm, manufacturing since 2006. We are pioneering the development and manufacture of eco friendly catering disposables and food packaging that can all be recycled along with food waste. Our products are stylish, functional, economic and sustainable. The Vegware range of 250+ compostable products spans cutlery through to tableware, napkins, hot and cold drink cups, and takeaway packaging. We work with a network of distributors across the UK to deliver our range of eco disposables to our clients.

WOODLY produces a carbon-neutral, bio-based polymer from FSC-certified wood cellulose, driving the defossilisation of plastics and decarbonisation of packaging. Our versatile, transparent granulate suits extrusion, blown film, cast film, thermoforming, and injection moulding, seamlessly integrating into existing production systems without extra equipment. EFSA-certified for food safety, it can extend fresh food shelf life by up to 40%, reducing waste. Unlike biodegradable plastics, Woodly is mechanically recyclable, and we are committed to ensuring product circularity through collaboration across the value chain.