From its Ithaca headquarters, RETRN BioWorks engineers biobased materials by turning low-value agricultural and forestry side streams into customizable chemistries for advanced packaging and industrial applications. Its process is built around flexible feedstocks and tunable biomaterials, with coatings designed to meet demanding performance and recyclability requirements. The company was founded by Dr. Christopher Thomas, Kristin Mannion, and Dr. Ryan Scheel and is supported by a team focused on product development and bioprocess science.
UnspentBorn from coffee-chemistry research at The Ohio State University in 2016, Unspent turns spent coffee grounds into COPOXEE™, a renewable plasticizer for the materials industry. Cofounders Kathryn Williamson and Emmanuel Hatzakis developed the material to give coffee waste a second use while helping replace petroleum-based plastics in functional packaging. The company also develops other sustainable materials from food-industry byproducts.
Paradigm GroupFounded by CEO Ralph Bianculli in 1997, Paradigm Group—through its Emerald Brand—develops sustainable disposable and packaging solutions that replace conventional paper and petroleum-based plastics with agricultural fibers and plant-based materials. The company’s signature Tree-Free, Farm to Tissue, Farm to Paper, and Plant to Plastic innovations grew from an original recycled-materials line into a broader approach to using crop waste and renewable feedstocks. Emerald products carry certifications including USDA BioPreferred, ASTM, Cedar Grove, and BPI.HALESITE, NY
Anew MaterialFounded by a former nail technician and a PhD chemist, Anew Material creates plant-based, biodegradable coatings designed to replace petroleum-based formulas, including a nail polish made without volatile chemicals or microplastics. Its water-based material technology also extends to fabric coatings and adhesives, bringing together scientific research and firsthand experience from the beauty industry.BROOKLYN, NY
Aries Science & Technology LLCFrom its Columbus base, Aries Science & Technology develops customized biobased microspheres and encapsulation solutions for specialized manufacturing applications. With more than 20 years of experience in custom microsphere development, the company builds its work around proprietary platforms such as Levupol and SiRamic, including safer alternatives for controlled release and polymer microcapsules. Its chemistry emphasizes sustainable feedstocks and avoids formaldehyde, isocyanates and bisphenol A.WESTERVILLE, OH