Polyurethane is widely used in consumer products but is made with toxic isocyanates and petrochemicals, raising environmental and health concerns. Matereal's polyurethane alternative is called Polaris™ and offers a sustainable alternative to petrochemical-based polyurethane. Harmful ingredients are replaced with renewable feedstocks, as well as captured CO2, to create an alternative without compromising on performance or cost. Powered by AI, Polaris™ provides a drop-in solution that matches current manufacturing equipment whilst supporting environmental goals. Our main goal is to drive positive change in the plastics industry.
Since the term ‘plastic’ was coined in the early 20th century, plastics have solved many problems, but they have also created new challenges—some of which we only recently began to fully understand. Issues such as forever chemicals, Cancer Alley, and plastic microfibers have come to light, underscoring the urgent need for sustainable alternatives. Matereal was founded to tackle these problems and bring plastic manufacturing into the 21st century: detoxified and decarbonized. Leveraging breakthrough chemistry and AI, Matereal aims to revolutionize plastics across industries—starting with coatings in textiles.
Polyurethane was invented by Otto Bayer in 1937, coinciding with the commercial availability of isocyanates. Isocyanates are crucial to polyurethane production, serving as reactive components that form the backbone of polyurethane's versatility and durability. They enable the creation of a wide range of materials, from foamy cushions to elastic fibers, providing manufacturers with unprecedented flexibility in product design. This invention revolutionized the plastics industry, offering affordable and adaptable solutions to consumers worldwide.
However, despite their versatility and widespread use, traditional polyurethane formulations come with significant downsides. Isocyanates, for instance, are highly toxic, contributing to occupational health issues such as workplace-related asthma. Additionally, the petrochemical origins of polyurethane lead to high carbon emissions and pose challenges for end-of-life disposal, with limited recycling options and reliance on non-renewable resources. Over the past 80 years, polyurethane production has been optimized around these harmful ingredients, making it a difficult material to decarbonize.
Polyurethane has become an integral part of everyday life. From the humble kitchen sponge to the breathable cycling jersey, from durable leather coatings to the weather-resistant seals around car windows, polyurethane is everywhere. Today, nearly every consumer product contains polyurethane in some form, and the global market is valued at an astounding $90 billion annually. In short, polyurethane's presence is nearly ubiquitous.
Matereal exists to disrupt this status quo with our non-isocyanate polyurethane (NIPU) platform, Polaris™. Polaris™ eliminates isocyanates and petrochemicals from polyurethane, replacing them with renewable resources, recycled feedstocks, and captured CO2. By harnessing the power of AI, Matereal accelerates the innovation process, matching the performance, versatility, and cost of traditional polyurethane while significantly reducing environmental and health impacts.
At Matereal, we believe that innovation and sustainability are not mutually exclusive. Our approach not only enhances sustainability but also benefits frontline communities historically impacted by plastic production. Polaris™ represents a paradigm shift, proving that businesses can thrive financially while contributing to a healthier planet - profitability and progress are not mutually exclusive. Through our efforts, we aim to demonstrate that advanced material science can provide drop-in solutions to the challenges posed by conventional plastics and can extend the bottom line beyond profit.
