Southampton’s Biome Technologies receives funding from Innovate UK

Published by

Sam Pither

A hands hold or touching biodegradable plastic pellets, plastic polymer dye granules color clear green

Biome Technologies, a Southampton-based bioplastics developer, has received funding from Swindon-based governmental organisation Innovate UK.

The funding, totalling £244,000, has been awarded to enhance the development of bioplastic food packaging in a collaborative project with ANOPLY, a South Korean Pohang University of Science and Technology spin-out.

ANOPLY uses advanced technology to create tailored cellulose nano-fibre (CNF). CNF is a material made of miniscule cellulose fibrils with a high length to width ratio. It has a number of potential applications ranging from paper to food.

The project, which is aiming to improve the longevity performance of Biome’s bioplastic food packaging, has raised £794,000 in total so far. Once it begins next month (October) it is expected to take two years.

Biome Technologies chief executive Paul Mines said: “This latest development project is an important enabling step in understanding the functionality of a combination of Biome’s most exciting products with cutting edge additive and technologies coming through from ANPOLY.

“We believe these could represent an important addition to the business’s product range in due course and will bring benefits to manufacturers, consumers and the environment.”

Bioplastics, according to Biome’s website, are plastics made wholly or partly from materials derived from biological sources like sugarcane, potato starch or the cellulose from trees and straw (which is used to make CNF).

As well as conserving resources, they can be designed to biodegrade or compost at the end of their life cycle instead of existing in landfill for centuries like oil-based polymers. They can also be engineered with novel characteristics such as vapour control and tactility.

Interestingly, the creation of the first plastics from organic material derived from cellulose predates the invention of Bakelite, the first plastic made from synthetic components in 1907.

Sam Pither

Sam is the Regional Editor of Biz News, responsible for both Hampshire and Dorset. A new recruit to journalism, Sam started writing for the Business Magazine as a freelancer in May of 2022 after completing his degree in English at University College London. His passion for local businesses and ability to tell a story soon caught the attention of the publication’s management team and have led to his meteoric rise. Sam, who lives in central Reading, takes a particular interest in technology, gaming and food and drink, having been a chef before starting his degree.