Last month, we received the first US Compostability certificate for our “nonplastic” material, Biodolomer. Biodolomer is a limestone-based bioplastic that can replace fossil plastic in almost any application. GAIA startpage Gaia Biomaterials goes west! Gaia Biomaterials goes west! Last month, we received the first US Compostability certificate for our “nonplastic” material, Biodolomer. Biodolomer is a limestone-based bioplastic that can replace fossil plastic in almost any application. Now things are really happening! The first sea containers are on their way across the Atlantic to converters in the USA as we speak. We even have converters who had asked for test batches to be flown over by air cargo. So, before you know it, you might find limestone-based, compostable bags, cups, drinking straws, aprons, etc., near you. If your brand is curious about how you can replace plastic with a non-plastic, reach out. Published date 3 maj 2024 Category News

Disposable plastic bedsheets are used in large volumes in the healthcare sector. They result in large amounts of waste. Aprons made from compostable Biodolomer biomaterial reduce waste and CO2 emissions. They don't compromise on function and biodegrade without leaving any microplastics. GAIA startpage Bedsheets Bedsheets Disposable bedsheets are used in large volumes in the healthcare sector. And they result in large amounts of waste. By having disposable bedsheets made out of compostable Biodolomer® biomaterial you reduce both waste and CO2 emissions. While still having exactly the same function. And if they accidentally find themselves in nature, they will soon decompose, leaving no microplastics. Contact us

American sustainable serviceware producer Evanesce is just about to start producing the first 7.5 million drinking straws made from Biodolomer, a compostable material based on limestone. Biodolomer is developed and manufactured in Sweden by Gaia Biomaterials. “The US market is 500 million straws – per day, and we offer a material that gives the feeling that customers want. The potential is enormous”, says Gaia Biomaterials CEO Peter Stenström. GAIA startpage First 7,5 million drinking straws in the US to be made of compostable material from Gaia Biomaterials First 7,5 million drinking straws in the US to be made of compostable material from Gaia Biomaterials American sustainable serviceware producer Evanesce is just about to start producing the first 7.5 million drinking straws made from Biodolomer, a compostable material based on limestone. Biodolomer is developed and manufactured in Sweden by Gaia Biomaterials. “The US market is 500 million straws – per day, and we offer a material that gives the feeling that customers want. The potential is enormous”, says Gaia Biomaterials CEO Peter Stenström. “We offer a compostable material that gives the customer the experience and feeling they want from a drinking straw. And no taste of paper!” says Peter Stenström. The straws will be produced by Evanesce – a leading force in the American transition away from disposable plastic service ware, focusing on compostable alternatives. At the company’s South Carolina production facility, extensive trials have been conducted with the Swedish limestone-based Biodolomer material. Now, production of the first batch of some 7.5 million straws is about to start. “There is a strong demand from consumers and brands for affordable, sustainable solutions, says Douglas Horne, CEO of Evanesce.“Out of the materials we have tested, Biodolomer is the only one that has lived up to our quality expectations while also being a competitively priced premium product.”Biodolomer is developed and manufactured by Gai Bioomaterials in Sweden. It is certified for industrial composting by both BPI in the US and DinCertco in Europe and has received FDA authorization for the safe use of food-contact substances. It leaves no micro plastics during composting process. ”We are convinced that the new straws will make even more companies choose a solution that allows their customers to enjoy their favourite beverages without being left with a bad aftertaste in their mouth; both literally and figuratively”, concludes Peter Stenström. Published date 7 okt. 2024 Category News

What if you sold your products in packaging that was as compostable as their contents? Food and beverages are the very essence of recycling. What we eat and drink sooner or later will decompose and be useful in a new cycle. But now we often put food and drink in packaging made of plastic. That will stay in the oceans or landfills for years and years and years…But the good news are that many food products can be put in packaging made of Biodolomer® from GAIA Biomaterials. Everything from milk bottles to meat trays. GAIA startpage Food & Beverage Biodolomer® F 900480 Biodolomer® F offers a great down gauging potential for thin film applications like carrier bags, waste bags, etc. See grade Biodolomer® F 900465 Biodolomer® F 900465 offers a great down gauging potential needed for thin film applications like fruit & greens pouches, etc. See grade Biodolomer® F 900515 Biodolomer® F offers a great down gauging potential for thin film applications like carrier bags, waste bags, etc. See grade Biodolomer® T 900494 Biodolomer® T 900442 is a thermoforming material developed to withstand high temperatures. See grade Load more All food & beverage Featured food & beverage grades What if you sold your products in packaging that was as compostable as their contents? Food and beverages are the very essence of recycling. What we eat and drink sooner or later will decompose and be useful in a new cycle. But now we often put food and drink in packaging made of plastic. That will stay in the oceans or landfills for years and years and years…But the good news are that many food products can be put in packaging made of Biodolomer® from GAIA Biomaterials. Everything from milk bottles to meat trays. Many of these disposable products can become biodegradable by switching the material used in manufacturing from plastic to Biodolomer®. They actually even becomes compostable. (Put a bag in the ground, wait a few months, and see what has happened). Trays and containers, grocery bags, bottles, jars…Biodolomer® is a fully compostable material that contains calcium carbonate. Not only does it not create plastic waste that lives forever. It contributes to earth’s natural fertility. Leaving no microplastics and resulting in some 80 % lower CO2 emissions. Biodolomer® can be used in various production techniques, including film blowing, bottle blowing, thermoforming, injection, and extrusion coating. Here are some restaurant and catering products that can be produced using Biodolomer®: Cutlery See product Beverage cups See product Caps and capsules See product Aprons See product Coffee cups & lids See product Disposable plates See product Bottles and jars See product Drinking straws See product Load more Food & Beverage

Ghost nets lost from fishing boats become deadly traps for marine wildlife, persisting for centuries. Now a South African/Swedish joint venture aims at ending the problem with compostable fishing nets. GAIA startpage Compostable fishing nets: An end to Ghost Nets in the oceans? Fishing nets lost at sea are a major source of plastic pollution in the ocean . These so-called "ghost nets" drift globally, ensnaring and killing fish, dolphins, seals, birds, and sea turtles. They can last up to 600 years, releasing microplastics as they slowly degrade. Now South African initiative Catchgreen, is developing a solution. By creating nets and other gear from compostable Biodolomer, a net lost at sea would degrade into biomass within a few years. They also have a higher density so they will sink to the bottom of the ocean where they cause less harm and are subject to microbes that speed up decomposing. – Biodolomer nets will not only reduce ghost fishing,” says Emma Algotsson, project lead at Catchgreen and CEO of Kompost-It. “It will reduce the amount of micro plastics in the ocean. And old nets can be disposed of at industrial composting facilities and turned into biomass. Biodolomer was invented by packaging material legend Åke Rosén who has been instrumental in developing many materials for Tetra Pak and has over 65 patents to his name. It is produced and marketed by Gaia Biomaterials in Sweden since 2015 and is being used for everything from grocery bags to beer cups and agricultural cover films. “It is a material that has all the characteristics of plastic that a user wants – but is compostable, says Peter Stenström, CEO of Gaia Biomaterials AB . “Industries from all over the world are finding new uses for it. And we develop custom versions regularly. By changing the composition we can for example change elasticity and how long it will take for the end product to decompose. Unlike some bioplastics Biodolomer does not shed any microplastics and use a very limited amount of natural resources. In most Biodolomer products Limestone is a key ingredient. “Limestone is one of the most common minerals on the planet,” Stenström notes. “And when Biodolomer decomposes it becomes water, CO2, and soil enriched with calcium carbonate." Developing compostable fishing nets has been challenging. Emma and Gaia Biomaterials' team have dedicated years to creating a suitable substrate for the threads used in larger nets, collaborating closely with South African net producers. “In 2023 we conducted real-world tests of gillnets in Kenyan waters. We are also working on biodegradable ropes and nets for coral restoration, seaweed, and kelp harvesting. The ultimate goal is to trial the material for trawl nets. Catchgreen is in part financed by The Sustainable Manufacturing and Environmental Pollution (SMEP) programme under the UK Government. SMEP is implemented in partnership with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). Catchgreen fishing nets are set to hit the market in 2024. For more information visit www.catchgreen.net Catchgreen – South Africa Emma Algotsson, Project Lead Emma@compost-it.co.za +27 82 822 8415 Published date 20 dec. 2023 Category News

Making disposable trays and packaging with compostable Biodolomer® biomaterial instead of plastics will drastically reduce waste and CO2 emissions. The function remains the same, but if a product accidentally finds itself in nature, it will biodegrade and disappear without leaving any microplastics. GAIA startpage Trays and packaging Trays and packaging Disposable trays and packaging are a big source of pollution. They create a lot of waste and use a lot of resources. And if they find themselves in the wrong place, they will stay in nature for a very long time. Making disposable trays and packaging out of compostable Biodolomer® biomaterial drastically reduces waste and CO2 emissions. While still achieving precisely the same function. And a product that accidentally finds itself in nature will biodegrade and disappear. Leaving no microplastics. Contact us

Replacing plastics with compostable Biodolomer biomaterial for fruit stickers will drastically reduce waste and CO2 emissions without compromising function or quality. They also biodegrade without leaving any microplastics if they are accidentally disposed of in nature. GAIA startpage Fruit stickers Fruit stickers It’s odd that we put plastic fruit stickers on fruits - and vegetables, for that matter. When the peels are composted, the stickers are not. Or they are just thrown away when the fruit is eaten. If you make the fruit stickers out of compostable Biodolomer® biomaterial they will decompose along with the peels. And if they are thrown away, they will biodegrade and disappear. Leaving no microplastics. Contact us

Oceanic microplastics remain one of the main environmental challenges ahead. The preliminary results reported by this year’s edition of The Ocean Race added further food for thought, as microplastics were found even in the remote waters of the southern Atlantic Ocean – a route seldom traveled. GAIA startpage WORRYING LEVELS OF OCEANIC MICROPLASTICS FOUND DURING THE OCEAN RACE WORRYING LEVELS OF OCEANIC MICROPLASTICS FOUND DURING THE OCEAN RACE Oceanic microplastics remain one of the main environmental challenges ahead. The preliminary results reported by this year’s edition of The Ocean Race added further food for thought, as microplastics were found even in the remote waters of the southern Atlantic Ocean – a route seldom traveled. Photo: Pixabay Oceanic microplastics remain one of the main environmental challenges ahead. The preliminary results reported by this year’s edition of The Ocean Race added further food for thought, as microplastics – in levels up to 1884 particles per cubic meter sea water – were reported in each of the 40 samples analyzed so far. Even during the challenging third leg through the remote waters of the southern Atlantic Ocean – a route seldom traveled – microplastic levels of up to 1492 particles per cubic meter were reported. For the first time, this year’s edition of The Ocean Race also examined the chemical structure of the plastic particles collected to better understand the causes and origins of oceanic microplastics. The initial analysis point towards polyethylene (PE) as the main contributor; meaning fishing nets, flexible packaging, plastic bags, and containers, to name some of the most common. The Ocean Race, apart from being a round-the-world sailing race (formerly known as Volvo Ocean Race), also runs a sustainability program that, among other topics, monitors the levels of microplastics in the ocean. Racing through some of the most inhospitable waters in the world, participants in The Ocean Race are uniquely well-positioned to monitor the microplastic levels in the oceans. Given the worrying results put forward by The Ocean Race, GAIA is further strengthened in its belief that Biodolomer® will solve many of these problems, as it can replace up to 80% of the world’s volume plastics while being both biodegradable and compostable. It also has a density higher than seawater, meaning that it will sink to the bottom of the ocean, where the bacteria found in the bottom sediments will completely biodegrade it. For those interested in learning more about The Ocean Race and their work with microplastics, you can find it here Gaia BioMaterials is a Swedish company that develops and produces biodegradable biomaterials. With our patented material, Biodolomer®, we are revolutionizing the plastics industry and contributing to a cleaner and healthier planet. Biodolomer® is inspired by a half-a-billion-year-old packaging design from Mother Earth – the egg. Read more . Copyright © 2023 Gaia Biomaterials AB, All rights reserved. Bunkagårdsgatan 13, Helsingborg, Sverige Published date 12 juli 2023 Category News

Carrier bags made from compostable Biodolomer biomaterial will biodegrade without leaving any microplastics if accidentally left in nature. Bags made from Biodolomer offer the same functionality as plastic carrier bags but will drastically reduce waste and CO2 emissions. GAIA startpage Carrier bags Carrier bags Plastic carrier bags from shops and stores are generally considered one of the biggest sources of plastic waste in nature. Still – it’s a really usable product. By making the bags out of compostable Biodolomer® biomaterial you reduce both waste and CO2 emissions drastically. While they still have exactly the same function. And if they accidentally find themselves in nature, they will soon biodegrade, leaving no microplastics. Contact us

A recently published Greenpeace report claims that recycling increases the toxicity of recycled plastic. According to the report, which draws its conclusions from several different reports and research articles, most plastics contain toxic chemicals from the start, to begin with, but by recycling them, further toxic chemicals can be added due to contamination in the plastic waste stream and the recycling process itself. GAIA startpage GREENPEACE: RECYCLING MAKES PLASTICS MORE TOXIC GREENPEACE: RECYCLING MAKES PLASTICS MORE TOXIC A recently published Greenpeace report claims that recycling increases the toxicity of the recycled plastic. According to the report, that draws its conclusions from several different reports and research articles, most plastics contain toxic chemicals from the start to begin with, but by recycling them, further toxic chemicals can be added due to contamination in the plastic waste stream and the recycle process itself. Picture: Pixabay Toxic substances leach into the plastic waste: Studies have shown that contaminants can be absorbed directly into the plastics from direct contact, as well as through the absorption of volatile compounds, thus adding to the toxic substances already present in the material. Examples given of such contamination include containers for pesticides and cleaning solvents. Toxic substances are created through the recycling process: When heated in the recycling process, plastics can generate new toxic chemicals that further increase the toxic content in the recycled plastics. One such example is that plastics containing brominated flame retardants create brominated dioxins. Another is that stabilizers used in plastic recycling can degrade to highly toxic substances. The report also highlights a number of action points that they urge governments and organisations to implement: Immediate, significant reductions in plastic production; ending virgin plastic production Promote a shift to refill- and reuse-based economies Support a just transition for workers across the plastics supply chain Promote non-combustion technologies for plastic stockpiles and waste disposal. Institute the “polluter pays” principle for plastic waste management Improve regulation, oversight, safety and worker protections for recycling facilities. Require transparency about chemicals in plastics and eliminate all toxic additives Whilst we at GAIA don’t necessarily agree with the individual solutions put forward by Greenpeace in the report, we still believe that the report encourages the continued discussion concerning which role plastic recycling should play in a sustainable world. For those interested in learning more about the Greenpeace report, you can find it here . Gaia BioMaterials is a Swedish company that develops and produces biodegradable biomaterials. With our patented material, Biodolomer®, we are revolutionizing the plastics industry and contributing to a cleaner and healthier planet. Biodolomer® is inspired by a half-a-billion-year-old packaging design from Mother Earth – the egg. Read more . Copyright © 2023 Gaia Biomaterials AB, All rights reserved. Bunkagårdsgatan 13, Helsingborg, Sverige Published date 12 juli 2023 Category News

Making snuff jars out of compostable Biodolomer® biomaterial instead of plastics will drastically reduce waste and CO2 emissions without compromising function. They will also biodegrade without leaving any microplastics rather than adding to the garbage mountains and ocean pollution. GAIA startpage Snuff jars Snuff jars Snuff jars are sold in 100’s of millions and can be made out of compostable Biodolomer® biomaterial instead of plastic. The function and production method are the same, but waste, energy use, and CO2 emissions are drastically reduced. And the real benefit is that instead of a plastic product that can add to garbage mountains, and ocean pollution, you get a product that will biodegrade and disappear by itself. Leaving no microplastics. Contact us

Plastic drinking straws are not always disposed of correctly. Drinking straws made from compostable Biodolomer biomaterial drastically reduce waste and CO2 emissions without compromising functionality. If accidentally left in nature, they biodegrade without leaving any microplastics. GAIA startpage Drinking straws Drinking straws Disposable drinking straws are a big source of pollution. They create a lot of waste and use a lot of resources. And if they find themselves in the wrong place, they will stay in nature for a very long time. By making straws out of compostable Biodolomer® biomaterial, you drastically reduce waste and CO2 emissions. While still achieving precisely the same function. And a straw that accidentally finds itself in nature will biodegrade and disappear. Leaving no microplastics. Contact us