The company transforms walnut shell waste into high-performance, biodegradable packaging materials, tackling the harm of fossil-based plastics. Combining renewable resources with advanced biopolymers, the company is able to offer durable, lightweight, and affordable solutions. Targeting cosmetic brands and producers, the eco-friendly solutions meet consumer demand for green alternatives and fit standard production machinery.
Currently in product development phase, focusing on material refinement and assuring regulatory compliance. Scheduled market launch of initial products by end of 2025. Collecting further interest from early adopters in the cosmetics industry.
For this SPRINGBOARD®, panelists with competencies/experience within these themes, are needed for sparring (prioritised):
The Company and Idea
We want to rethink sustainable packaging solutions by repurposing wasted walnut shells, addressing critical environmental issues like CO₂ emissions and plastic waste accumulation. Our approach combines innovation with a commitment to true circular economy principles, utilizing an abundant and renewable resource, easing the decision for companies to make more sustainable choices.
Product / Service
We develop a biodegradable and moldable material derived from walnut shells, that is intended to be suited for cosmetic packaging like jars and boxes. This material is designed to be attractive, lightweight, durable, and affordable, offering a sustainable alternative to fossil-based plastics without compromising on functionality or aesthetics.
Solution
Our bio-composite material uses the natural properties of walnut shells—cellulose and lignin—to create greener packaging solutions with great mechanical characteristics such as strength and durability, stability, and UV protection. It meets industry standards for performance and enhances footprint reduction for companies. Through early cradle-to-grave assessment, we estimate a 40% reduction in GHG emissions compared to conventional single-use HDPE.
Business Model
Direct B2B sales to cosmetics companies focused on sustainability. Revenue streams include selling standard packaging solutions and licensing our proprietary biomaterial to other manufacturers. SME’s have shown interest in the development of our solution, due to being aware of the need for a shift and the need to differentiate with more sustainable options. After we have shown initial traction in the industry with pilot cases, we also intend to sell our material to packaging producers, allowing them to use our material for production, increasing the adoption of our solutions and our impact.
Customers
Initial target: Cosmetics companies seeking sustainable packaging solutions to align with regulatory requirements and consumer demand for eco-friendly products. Validated need and attraction by receiving 2 LOIs and addressing companies in the beachhead market.
The Market
Growing demand for sustainable packaging solutions driven by regulatory changes (EU directives on single-use plastics) and consumer preferences for eco-friendly products. The market standard is still plastic, the industry has undergone a ‘premiumization’ shift on the ingredients side already and is now looking to do so on the packaging end.
30% of the global primary plastic production is dedicated to producing packaging, with 45% of plastic packaging being rigid packaging and cosmetics accounting for the second largest sector of use. The cosmetic industry alone produces over 120 billion packaging units per year, a concern we witnessed firsthand in our industry experience.
Finance / Financing
Initial investment of DKK 750,000 secured from Nordic BioVentures in January 2024.
Continued funding through grants (Innofounder 1,090,000 dkk), accelerators (DTU GreenUp; Convertible Loan of around 500,000 dkk).
We have signed LOI’s for Q3/4 2025 that, in total, sum up to a revenue of 115.000 DKK. The initial profit will probably be around 50.000-10.000 depending on the production method and the sum of initial costs for the first production (mold, time to adjust machine settings, etc.).
Status
Currently in product development phase, focusing on material refinement and assuring regulatory compliance.
Scheduled market launch of initial products by end of 2025. Collecting further interest from early adopters in the cosmetics industry.