Led by a team trained in materials science and civil engineering at Johns Hopkins University, JJ Innovative Materials Inc. is a Baltimore company developing lower-carbon building materials from plant-based and recovered inputs. Its work is aimed at giving construction customers practical alternatives that divert waste and reduce the environmental burden of building.
InventWoodBorn from a 2013 University of Maryland research effort, Frederick-based InventWood turns ordinary wood into SUPERWOOD, a molecularly reengineered building material designed to combine wood’s warmth with steel-like performance. The company’s decade of research includes partnerships with the University of Maryland and Yale, more than 30 journal publications, and a 144-patent portfolio, culminating in commercial production at its Maryland facility. InventWood says the material can be up to six times lighter than steel, achieve a Class A fire rating, and generate 90% lower carbon emissions than steel production.FREDERICK, MD
X-MAT CCCFounded in 2020, Bluefield, West Virginia’s X-MAT CCC develops coal-derived building materials that turn an abundant regional resource into components for construction. Working from the Bluefield Commercialization Station with partners including the Center for Applied Research and Technology and Semplastics, the company is moving its X-MAT technology from research toward manufacturing while pursuing carbon sequestration and new jobs in coal communities. Its development has included a $500,000 Department of Energy contract to design and develop a carbon-based building.BLUEFIELD, WV
BIOMATBIOMAT makes renewable, carbon-negative building materials from hemp and lime, including precast interlocking panels for healthier, more energy-efficient walls. Its hemp-lime material is designed to resist fire, mold, pests and moisture while capturing carbon in the building envelope. Made from hemp, lime and water, the panels offer a natural alternative to traditional stud construction.COLUMBUS, OH
Enzymatic, IncBuilt around technology developed with Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Enzymatic, Inc. develops enzyme-based construction materials that make concrete more durable while capturing carbon. Its portfolio includes EC3, a low-dose additive designed to help concrete self-heal and resist corrosion, and Enzymatic Construction Material, a carbon-negative alternative that can repair cracks. The company holds seven patents, including four issued by WPI and exclusively licensed to Enzymatic, and its research has appeared in Matter and Applied Materials Today.LAS VEGAS, NV