Beverage cups at events are a big source of pollution and CO2, and in a time where sustainability is a key issue. GAIA startpage Beverage cups Beverage cups Beverage cups at events are a big source of pollution and CO2, and in a time where sustainability is a key issue for major events this is an area where we can help. Beverage cups from Biodolomer are not only environmentally clever: They are sturdy (you know how annoying it can be trying to hold several full cups that keep changing form), and they van be re-used over and over again. They are also perfect for printing and branding! And even if you sit on them they just wrinkle and can be put back to original shape. Biodolomer beverage cups are compostable, CO2 neutral and does not result in any plastic waste or microplastics. Contact us

The UK’s new Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, recently delivered a major policy speech addressing the climate crisis. In his speech, he highlighted biodegradable fishing nets as an example of initiatives made possible through British investments. These nets, developed in South Africa using Swedish material, have the potential to completely eliminate the problem of ghost nets in the oceans over time. GAIA startpage UK Foreign Secretary highlights biodegradable fishing nets made from Swedish material in policy speech UK Foreign Secretary highlights biodegradable fishing nets made from Swedish material in policy speech The UK’s new Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, recently delivered a major policy speech addressing the climate crisis. In his speech, he highlighted biodegradable fishing nets as an example of initiatives made possible through British investments. These nets, developed in South Africa using Swedish material, have the potential to completely eliminate the problem of ghost nets in the oceans over time. Photo: Konrad Rosén – R&D Manager at Gaia Biomaterials, with the biodegradable fishing net. The Swedish company Gaia Biomaterials, based in Helsingborg, developed the bioplastic material – Biodolomer – which is used to produce the nets. The material is compostable and does not release microplastics. Biodolomer is used fpr a variety of applications, including grocery bags, disposable aprons, and drinking straws. For several years, the company has been working with South African company Catchgreen, supported by the UK Foreign Office, to develop a version of the material for the fishing industry: Biodolomer Ocean. “Fishing nets that end up in the oceans becom ghost nets and pose an enormous problem,” says Konrad Rosén, Head of Development at Gaia Biomaterials. “They can float around for hundreds of years, becoming deadly traps for marine animals while also releasing microplastics.” Gaia Biomaterials’ new material has been tested in Africa for several years, and has been used in inland fishing, seaweed, and coral farming in Kenya, a country with strict regulations on plastic use. Recently, the first complete net made from this material was finished and showcased at an international fishing exhibition in Iceland. Published date 2 okt. 2024 Category News

Making drinking cups 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 Drinking cups Drinking cups Drinking cups are a convenient option when real glasses are deemed too cumbersome. But drinking cups are a big source of pollution. They create a lot of waste and use many resources. And if they find themselves in the wrong place, they will stay in nature for a long time. Using compostable Biodolomer® biomaterial instead of plastic drastically reduces waste and CO2 emissions. While still achieving precisely the same function. And anything that accidentally finds itself in nature will biodegrade and disappear. Leaving no microplastics. Contact us

Peter Barry joined Gaia’s board of directors earlier this year following his investment in the company. But what brings an Irishman from the tea industry to a Swedish company working to phase out the world’s use of plastics? GAIA startpage This is us: Part 1 – Peter Barry This is us: Part 1 – Peter Barry This is us: Part 1 – Peter Barry Peter Barry joined Gaia’s board of directors earlier this year following his investment in the company. But what brings an Irishman from the tea industry to a Swedish company working to phase out the world’s use of plastics? Peter Barry was born into tea. His family founded and runs Ireland’s leading tea brand – Barry’s Tea – and Peter was involved in various small jobs at the company from a young age. After finishing school, Peter left Ireland for the UK in 1989 to start working for Typhoo Tea, where he stayed for 16 years before becoming a director at the contract tea-packaging company Infusion GB. “We package about 1 billion tea bags annually, and that’s just one company in one industry,” says Peter Barry. “The packaging industry has an enormous impact on the environment, and it’s our duty to make ourselves part of the solution since we are part of the problem.” It was through another company that Peter first came into contact with Gaia Biomaterials, and the concept immediately fascinated him. “The fact that there is a material that can replace plastic, is compostable, has a very low CO2 footprint, and is made from one of the most common minerals on the planet is incredible. It seemed almost too good to be true, and I was a little hesitant at first.” After doing his research, he realized that Gaia’s material, Biodolomer, is very much “the real deal.” During the latest investment round, Peter became an investor in the company and joined its board of directors. “Biodolomer is being used in everything from grocery bags to beer cups and pots for plants. The potential is huge. We’ve already tried using Biodolomer in envelopes for tea bags at Infusion GB, and the results are very promising. The engineers say it’s the best material they’ve come across in 40 years – and it uses 50% less energy.” Peter now works to keep brands and packaging companies in other sectors interested and informed on how compostability can solve many problems. “I come from within the industry, so I bring a certain credibility to the table. There’s a lot of conservatism and a mindset of ‘we can’t do that.’ “It’s like in Ireland when smoking was banned in bars and restaurants – we were the first in Europe to do that. Before it came into force, there was a lot of disgruntlement, but once implemented, it wasn’t a big deal. Now, it just seems strange that people used to smoke in pubs… It’s the same for plastic packaging. Once people understand that there’s a realistic alternative, they’ll realize it was much ado about nothing.” Contact us

Disposable plastic automotive covers create a lot of waste. If blown off, they stay in nature for a very long time. Automotive covers made from compostable Biodolomer biomaterial reduce waste and CO2 emissions drastically. They have the same function and biodegrade without leaving any microplastics. GAIA startpage Automotive covers Automotive covers Covering cars with disposable plastic automotive covers creates a lot of waste. And if blown off, they fly away and stay in nature for a very long time. By making automotive covers out of compostable Biodolomer® biomaterial you reduce both waste and CO2 emissions drastically. While still having exactly the same function. And if they accidentally find themselves in nature, they will soon biodegrade, leaving no microplastics. Contact us

E-commerce bags made with compostable Biodolomer biomaterial will biodegrade without leaving any microplastics if accidentally left in nature. They offer the same functionality as plastic e-commerce bags but will drastically reduce waste and CO2 emissions. GAIA startpage e-commerce bags e-commerce bags The plastic bags used in e-commerce are a big source 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 having e-commerce bags 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 biodegrade, leaving no microplastics. Contact us

We are happy to welcome our new Finance Manager Tobias Wilbs to GAIA BioMaterials. GAIA startpage Finance Manager Tobias Wilbs to GAIA BioMaterials. We are happy to welcome our new Finance Manager Tobias Wilbs to GAIA BioMaterials . Tobias has a solid background as a business controller with companies such as Lidl Sverige , Paradox Interactive , Maquet Getinge Group , and MilDef . “I am a bit of a numbers nerd and love to be a part of growth journey. Finding solutions and creating systems that can help making that growth possible while the company stays profitable. GAIA Biomaterials has the soul of a startup combined with real-life industrialism. And a true purpose. This is a company that wants to – and will – make a difference.“ Published date 20 nov. 2023 Category News

GAIA startpage Home Property Unit Test method Grade 900470 Typical Basic Material properties of grade 900470 Certification of Compostability and Biodegrade Food Regulatory Status Form supplied and Storage Applications Note Datasheet updated 2023-06-28 10:0 (supersedes all previous editions) Download as PDF Testing Data sheet 2

Sports should be about caring. Not tearing.Sports and recreation are vital to our health and well-being. Unfortunately, it also produces waste that does the very opposite. One example is artificial grass, especially the granules that provide the infill on sports field surfaces that need to be constantly refilled.  GAIA startpage Sports and Recreation Biodolomer® I 900362 Biodolomer® I 900362 is an injection molding grade for for soft, flexible applications. See grade Materials Under Development GAIA is currently developing several different materials for various applications. See grade Biodolomer® I 900236 Biodolomer® I 900236 is a biodegradable biomaterial developed for the injection molding process. See grade Load more All sports and recreation Featured sports and recreation grades Sports should be about caring. Not tearing. Sports and recreation are vital to our health and well-being. Unfortunately, it also produces waste that does the very opposite. One example is artificial turf, especially the granules that provide the infill on sports field surfaces that need to be constantly refilled. By shifting from granules made from rubber from recycled tires to granules made out of Biodolomer ® the environmental footprint can be drastically reduced. And granules are just one example. 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 sports and recreation products that can be produced using Bidolomer ® : Shotgun wads See product Golf tees See product Drinking bottles See product Infill for artificial turf See product Toys See product Load more Sports and Recreation

As a leading developer of biodegradable and compostable biomaterials, GAIA has monitored the challenges associated with the mulch film market for a long time. Knowing fully well that the development of a challenging new product is a marathon, rather than a sprint, GAIA has worked methodically to bridge the hurdles associated with mulch film materials before entering the final development phase. GAIA startpage GAIA BIOMATERIALS SETS ITS SIGHTS ON THE MULCH FILM MARKET GAIA BIOMATERIALS SETS ITS SIGHTS ON THE MULCH FILM MARKET Mulch films are a crucial part of modern agricultural practices, with an estimated market value of USD3,5 Bn in 2020. But new findings suggest that mulch films contribute to the very problems they are meant to tackle, with microplastic pollution, resulting in diminishing returns from the agricultural areals available. As a leading developer of biodegradable and compostable biomaterials, GAIA has monitored the challenges associated with the mulch film market for a long time. Knowing fully well that the development of a challenging new product is a marathon, rather than a sprint, GAIA has worked methodically to bridge the hurdles associated with mulch film materials before entering the final development phase. Photo: Pixabay Mulch films and microplastics – the flip side of the coin It has been long established that microplastics are harmful to people and animals. According to findings presented by Scientists at ETH Zürich, microplastics can harm the soil and vegetation as well, which spells problems for the mulch film industry. In their study, the Scientists observed how high concentrations of microplastics in the soil caused it to repel water, thus creating disturbances in how the water flowed through the soil, resulting in areas with high concentrations of microplastics receiving considerably less water. When using mulch film, high concentrations of microplastics can amass in partial areas, leading to an insufficient water supply to the plants' root systems. In the worst-case scenario, this leads to dry zones where soil cultivation becomes difficult. Building a solid ground by solving the microplastics issue Given the enormous implications associated with microplastics for humans, animals, and plants alike, GAIA had already identified this as one of the most urgent issues for several applications, including mulch films, and had this marked down as a top priority. “Traditionally, compostable biomaterials have included PLA to a larger or smaller extent," explains GAIA BioMaterials’ R&D Manager Konrad Rosén. “PLA is in many ways a fantastic material, which brings stability and strength to end applications, but it also has its drawbacks: The slow biodegradation rate in low temperatures being among the biggest ones. Through a focused R&D effort that spans several different applications, utilizing the competencies and experiences of a cross-discipline team, we found a way to omit PLA from our film grades without compromising on the material properties. The result was a material certified for home composting in thicknesses previously unimaginable.” It also proved to be a breakthrough when it came to solving the problems with microplastics: A study conducted by Scientists at ETH Zürich had previously concluded that materials with the same material composition as Biodolomer® don’t generate any microplastics when dispersed in soil, but are completely biodegraded. The future of mulch film With a growing world population and the demand for increased agricultural returns, the mulch film market is expected to continue to grow, from USD3,5 Bn in 2020 to USD5,1 Bn in 2027. Currently, biodegradable mulch films only constitute a fraction of this, with PLA-free mulch films making up even less. This, however, is projected to change. Given the disturbing findings concerning the effects of microplastics in the soil, fewer and fewer countries and landowners will be willing to risk their future agricultural returns by continuing to use mulch films that will result in microplastic pollution. To retain their current returns, they will have no other option but to use biodegradable mulch film instead that does not generate microplastics. “The potential is huge,” says Peter Stenström, CEO of GAIA BioMaterials. “We’re still at the early stages of development, but given that we have the most important feature of not creating microplastics in place from the get-go, we are confident that we will succeed.” For those interested in learning more, please refer to the following articles: Soil Science of America: A LASTING IMPACT: MICROPLASTICS SETTLING INTO SOIL Vadose Zone Journal: Microplastic induces soil water repellency and limits capillary flow Science Advances: Biodegradation of synthetic polymers in soils: Tracking carbon into CO2 and microbial biomass If you are interested in cooperating with GAIA BioMaterials concerning mulch film, please contact Peter Stenström . 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

GAIA startpage Home Property Unit Test method Grade 900470 Typical Basic Material properties of grade 900470 Certification of Compostability and Biodegrade Food Regulatory Status Form supplied and Storage Applications Note Datasheet updated 2023-06-28 10:0 (supersedes all previous editions) Download as PDF 4 Data sheet 4

Last weekend was the first time a major global sports event used compostable bioplastic beer cups. At the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, 150,000 beer cups of compostable Biodolomer, reduced waste, microplastics and CO2 to a minimum. GAIA startpage Compostable beer cups at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Compostable beer cups at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix The beer cups, from UK-based Happy Dolphin, are the first ever to be made of compostable Biodolomer. Last weekend’s event was the first where they were used on a big scale. 150,000 cups were supplied to Ethara who are the promotors and organizers of the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. "It's a fantastic sign of recognition to have been chosen by such a prestigeous event", says David Hughes of Happy Dolphin. “The cups are very durable and stable and are suitable for printing. They can be collected along with food waste and put straight in an industrial compost. The result will be soil that is very high in minerals.” Biodolomer, devised by Swedish company Gaia Biomaterials, is a bioplastic primarily made from natural minerals and vegetable oils. It comes in granules and can be used in most plastic production methods. It has the same characteristics as plastic – but is compostable, very durable and does not leave any micro plastoc or plastic pollution. Biodolomer is used for everything from grocery bags to cover film for agriculture. It is 100% compostable, CO2 neutral and does not result in any microplastics. "This a fantastic opportunity for us to show the world what our material can do, And that it is possible to totally eliminate plastic waste", says Gaia Biomaterials CEO Peter Stenström. The beer cups used in Abu Dhabi were developed by Happy Dolphin in order to be suitable for major events. They are sturdy, which reduces foaming from beer taps, and can be printed on all sides. Two different measurements are embossed in the cups. “They are extremely robust”, Hughes adds.“We’ve stepped on them, hit them with cricket bats, sat on them and they just wrinkle and can be put back in shape – ready for a refill. The only thing that broke them was when we ran them over with a car." Published date 28 nov. 2023 Category News