‘Groundbreaking’ bioplastics developer set for expansion following £2m investment

Northern Gritstone has today announced a £2m Series A investment into the bioplastics developer Floreon Technology Limited, a spin-out technology from the University of Sheffield.

Based in Hull, Floreon was founded by the entrepreneur Shaun Chatterton in 2011. CTO Dr Andrew Gill joined in 2013, having completed his PhD and a Knowledge Transfer Partnership with the University of Sheffield.

Floreon has developed a range of bioplastics made from plants, including corn and sugarcane, with performance comparable to Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS), the common plastic polymer widely used in automotive, electronics and electrical appliances and toys.

With over 99 per cent of the world’s plastics produced from chemicals sourced from fossil fuels, bioplastics offer a sustainable alternative. The global bioplastics and biopolymers market is projected to reach $27.3bn by 2027.

Unlike other bioplastic products, Floreon’s materials have uniquely achieved the performance standards required for high-value applications and mass production.

Through using plants to take carbon dioxide directly from the air and convert it into sugars that can be used as feedstock for the material, Floreon’s bioplastics production can reduce carbon emissions by up to 7x compared to traditional oil-based plastics. Northern Gritstone’s investment will allow Floreon to expand its team and bring its products to market.

Floreon’s innovations include:

• Therma-Tech, the world’s first bioplastic to achieve UL94V-0 flammability certification, allowing its use in applications such as home electronics, automotives and construction.
• Dura-Tech, an ideal alternative to ABS when fire resistance isn’t needed
• Bio-Tech, an industrially compostable version ideal for food packaging and agricultural applications.

Shaun Chatterton, Founder and Chair of Floreon, commented: “Everyday oil-based plastics are contributing to the global environmental crisis. Our vision is to offer brands an alternative product and through this transform the global plastics market.

“We are delighted to partner with Northern Gritstone. Their support, experience and investment will enable us to develop our team and deliver our commercial strategy.”

Duncan Johnson, CEO of Northern Gritstone, added: “Floreon has developed an innovative and unique technology that offers producers a genuine route to reducing the environmental impact of their plastic products.

By Matthew Neville – Senior Correspondent, Bdaily

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