Origin Materials wins funding to develop bio-based carbon black

West Sacramento, California – US startup Origin Materials has been awarded funding from BioMade, a manufacturing innovation institute supported by the US Department of Defense (DoD).

The award was made as part of a $18.7 million (€17.5 million) BioMADE funding for 9 projects aimed at advancing DoD’s supply chain resiliency and sustainability goals.

As part of the project, Origin said it aimed to use its technology platform to develop samples of bio-based polymers and bio-based carbon black, which would be used to make more sustainable tires and other products.

The new sustainable materials, said an 18 Sept statement by Origin, could support DoD’s fleet decarbonisation efforts.

The supplier of 'carbon neutral' materials did not provide further details about the amount of the grant.

Origin has developed a patented technology platform which turns the carbon found in wood residue into polymeric materials.

The company describes its carbon black as a “versatile 100% bio-content filler and pigment produced from sustainable wood residues rather than petroleum.”