Plantics, a 2014 spin-off from the University of Amsterdam, hopes to revolutionize the way the world makes and uses plastics. What started as an accidental discovery of a biodegradable polymer in 2011 while researching catalytic biomass conversion has turned into a commercially viable packaging material.  Already with four issued patents, the company recently applied for another with an important distinction. Previous applications have focused on the biodegradable material itself, but now the company is seeking to protect its production technique. This will be important as they scale and expand outside of Europe.

Even having only been around a couple years and with a limited IP portfolio, Plantics has won multiple awards. In 2015 they won a start-up grant from the Dutch Technology Foundation, and in 2018 won the Natural Fibertastic Award. This award recognized Plantics as the first 100% bio-based thermoset plastic, which also happens to be dramatically stronger than polyurethane.