MakeGrowLab

ABOUT THE PROJECT

MakeGrowLab is a Polish biotechnology company from Puławy that ‘grows’ the materials of the future. Instead of producing packaging from petroleum or cutting down trees, it uses microorganisms fed with waste from agriculture and the food industry. In this way, plant residues that might otherwise have been discarded are transformed into a valuable raw material. The company’s flagship technology is SPM® nanofibers – extremely thin fibers of pure cellulose created by microorganisms. These are used to produce durable, plastic-free materials that can decompose in a home compost bin. The technology has been under development since 2016, and MakeGrowLab is working on scaling it so that it can be used by packaging manufacturers on a large scale.

SPM® materials can be used to produce sachets, bags, packaging for food and cosmetics, and also as an ecological protective layer for paper. They protect products from oxygen, fat, and water vapor, are resistant to damage, and are approved for food contact.

WHAT NEEDS DOES THE INNOVATION ADDRESS?

Many packages look like paper, but are actually covered with a thin layer of plastic. This protects food from moisture and fat, but makes them difficult to recycle later. A similar problem applies to foil sachets and multi-material packaging, which most often end up being incinerated or in landfills.

MakeGrowLab creates an alternative that retains the most important properties of traditional packaging but does not require the use of petroleum-derived plastics. The material can protect tea, coffee, sweets, supplements, cosmetics, or dry products, and after use, it decomposes without leaving microplastics.

The technology simultaneously addresses the problem of bio-waste. The company can use residues from agriculture, food production, and forestry, among others. Instead of treating them as waste, it uses them as a nutrient for microorganisms that produce new material.

This is why MakeGrowLab fits into the clean tech area: one solution reduces plastic consumption, utilizes local waste, does not require cutting down trees, and can reduce the consumption of water, energy, and chemicals needed for traditional cellulose production.

COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES

MakeGrowLab’s biggest advantage is the way the material is produced. Cellulose is not obtained from wood, but created directly by microorganisms. This makes it very pure, and the process does not require separating it from other plant components using intensive chemical treatment.

SPM® nanofibers can be used not only as a standalone packaging material. Added to paper, adhesives, or other materials, they can improve their strength and resistance to oxygen, fat, and moisture. They can also be introduced into existing production processes and recycled together with paper.

The company is also developing TransLeather™ – a plant-based, plastic-free alternative to leather, intended for the fashion, interior design, and automotive industries, among others. The material is made from food waste within a few weeks, without the use of animals and the traditional, environmentally burdensome tanning process. MakeGrowLab shows that packaging does not have to be produced from petroleum or by cutting down trees. It can be grown from local bio-waste – creating a material that protects the product during use and safely returns to nature after fulfilling its function.

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