Renaissance BioScience Corp., a global leader in bioengineered yeast, and UK-based Biome Bioplastics Limited have announced a two-year collaboration valued at up to C$1.5 million (£814,000) to innovate sustainable, renewable bioplastic building block production using advanced fermentation processes. The project targets applications in packaging, personal care, health, and consumer goods, offering high-performance alternatives to conventional oil-based plastics.
The partnership is supported by advisory services and funding from the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP) and UK Research and Innovation's Innovate UK. This bilateral support will provide resources to advance the project and deliver meaningful environmental benefits for both countries.
Over the course of the project, the partners will develop a sustainable system to produce a bio-based, renewable building block for bioplastics, replacing the need for petroleum-derived materials. The work will include strain engineering and fermentation trials in Canada and the UK, resulting in process optimizations and production of test samples for packaging and personal care applications by global partners. The goal is to establish a reliable, scalable, and cost-effective pathway for producing renewable plastics that reduces fossil fuel dependence, minimizes waste, and meets performance expectations for everyday products.
The global sustainable chemicals market is projected to exceed US$39 billion by 2034. This joint project will strengthen Canada and the UK's leadership positions in this fast-growing sector. Dr. John Husnik, Renaissance's CSO and Office of the CEO, commented: 'Biome Bioplastics is a recognized leader in sustainable materials, and together our expertise can deliver impactful renewable solutions that address plastic pollution while meeting the growing demand for high-performance alternatives.' Paul Mines, CEO at Biome Bioplastics, added: 'This collaboration bridges biology and materials science to accelerate the transition to bioplastics made from renewable sources.'
Biome Bioplastics, with headquarters in the UK and offices in Canada and USA, is a leading developer of innovative bio-based plastics. More information is available at https://biomebioplastics.com/. Renaissance BioScience Corp., based in Vancouver, Canada, is a yeast bioengineering company developing functional microorganisms for agriculture, health, food, and energy. More information can be found at www.renaissancebioscience.com.
