Rethinking Materials Summit, London, May 16-17  

With consumers and regulators more focused on the materials we use and how they are disposed of than ever before, innovators are revolutionising materials for consumer goods, which includes packaging, textiles, non-wovens, and durable goods, as well as approaches to waste management.  14 start-ups offering scalable solutions and technologies to shake up the CPG, textiles, durable goods, and packaging value chains will take to the stage at the Rethinking Materials Summit in London on May 16-17.  

Solutions include next-gen materials created from bio-based feedstocks and AI powered R&D  platforms accelerating new material discovery.  

Innovators will pitch their solutions and field questions from investor panels in three themed Technology Showcase sessions – 

Material Innovation Delivering on Performance and Functionality introduces four start-ups focused on sustainable, high-performance materials of the future, with investors from KOK PROJECT and ASTANOR VENTURES.  

Innovation Supporting the Decarbonisation and Circularity of Materials hands the mic to innovators with technologies promoting the decarbonisation of materials in a value chain, with investors from Cell VC and Planet A.   

Solutions Supporting Efficiencies in Materials presents four innovators leveraging digital technologies to enhance and prolong the lifecycle of materials, with investors from Blue Horizon and Mass Challenge. 

14 HAND-PICKED START-UPS PIONEERING A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE 

∙ Kelpi is pioneering innovative bio-materials from renewable sources like seaweed, which break down naturally on land and sea. 

∙ Again is a technology company dedicated to helping brands use a shared supply chain infrastructure for reuse of their existing packaging. 

∙ Oco specialises in carbon upcycling technology, offering low carbon material solutions to consumer products brands, helping them towards reaching their climate goals.  ∙ Greyparrot is the leading AI waste analytics platform for the circular economy, on a mission to digitise the $1.6 trillion waste management industry. 

∙ Circularise is helping material producers, manufacturers, OEMs and to trace raw materials from source into parts and ultimately to end products, via a public blockchain system. ∙ Materiom uses open data and AI to empower scientists, material developers, and brands to accelerate R&D and drive massive market entry of new biomaterials.  

∙ MicroByre works to accelerate the transition to a circular bioeconomy through the domestication of reluctant and rebellious bacteria.  

∙ Polygreen is a sustainable alternative to commonly used super absorbent materials in packaging and hygiene products. 

∙ Reselo develops novel biomaterials from abundant biomass feedstocks as alternatives to fossil-derived rubbers and plastics. 

∙ Ourobio harnesses microbes to turn industrial by-products into targeted, low-footprint additives for the chemicals/materials and CPG industries – lowering the cost and footprint of producing high-performance bio-based products and packaging.  

∙ Tandem Repeat develops tunable, adaptable, and programmable protein-based bioderived materials. 

∙ Xinterra combines Artificial Intelligence and High Throughput Experimentation tools to accelerate the development of materials, starting by textiles that can remove CO2 directly from air. 

∙ Solutum is a developer of biodegradable products designed to offer an alternative to plastics and polythene packets. They’ve created a compound that can be engineered to create a range of flexible packaging with the most versatile end-of-life on the market. 

∙ Reath provides software to help businesses launch and scale reusable packaging systems that engage customers. 

Commenting on the innovator showcase opportunity, Markus Solbieda, Managing Director at BASF  Venture Capital, said: “New materials and innovative, as well as significantly improved, chemical  processes will play a major role in reducing CO₂ emissions and in dealing with climate change. In  order to accelerate the required research and developments, contributions from software  development, AI and quantum computing research will be crucial. To achieve significant outcomes, a  lot will depend on the interdisciplinary and successful liaison between traditional chemistry and new  digital tools.” 

Hundreds of materials and packaging pioneers will meet at Rethinking Materials in London on May 16-17, with speakers including ABINBEV, BEIERSDORF, HUHTAMAKI, PANGAIA, and UNILEVER. 

The summit brings together the full value chain for two days of high-impact networking and knowledge exchange to accelerate circular solutions in plastics & packaging and turn the tide on plastic pollution. 

“Connecting innovators with investors and corporate partners is one of the greatest opportunities we have at Rethinking Materials. The full value chain must work together to stimulate innovation, to  realise proof of concept, and to accelerate the market entry of new viable solutions. Only then will  new circular materials make the impact we desperately need.” says Ellen McLeay, the summit’s Senior Conference Producer and Technology Scout at Rethink Events. 

The full programme, speaking faculty and delegate registration details are available here