the
green materials
data company
the
green materials
data company
the
green materials
data company
Industry recognises the importance of transitioning to sustainable, biobased materials, but faces challenges finding, using and integrating them into operations… while complying with legislation and circular economy principles.
Verdatica’s goal is to overcome these challenges with data, digital utilities, and services covering all aspects of working with biobased materials.
What are biobased materials?
Biobased materials are sourced from renewable, biological feedstocks, such as agricultural and urban bio-waste. Developed within the principles of the circular economy, they have a reduced environmental impact, enhanced biodegradability, and the ability to be continuously reused or recycled.
Why use biobased materials?
Why use
biobased materials?
Extractive materials, like fossil fuels and minerals, present significant challenges for the environment and people.
Extractive materials are derived from finite resources that take millions of years to form, such as oil, coal, natural gas, and minerals.
Their extraction leads to the depletion of these resources, which cannot be easily replenished. This creates concerns about future availability and price volatility, as well as dependence on a limited number of resource-rich regions.
The extraction of materials often involves large-scale mining, drilling, and excavation operations, which can cause severe environmental damage.
Deforestation, habitat destruction, soil erosion, water pollution, and air pollution are common consequences of extractive activities. These activities can harm ecosystems, lead to the loss of biodiversity, and disrupt delicate ecological balances.
The extraction and combustion of fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, and natural gas, are major contributors to greenhouse gas emissions. The release of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere intensifies the greenhouse effect, leading to climate change and global warming.
The resulting environmental changes, such as rising temperatures, sea-level rise, and extreme weather events, have far-reaching impacts on ecosystems, communities, and economies.
The extraction, processing, and use of extractive materials can have negative health effects on nearby communities.
Exposure to pollutants and toxic substances released during extraction operations can lead to respiratory problems, cardiovascular diseases, neurological disorders, and other health issues.
Communities living in close proximity to extractive sites often face increased risks and reduced quality of life due to pollution and environmental degradation.
Extractive industries can bring social and economic challenges to local communities.
These industries are often associated with unequal distribution of wealth, labor exploitation, displacement of indigenous peoples, and conflicts over land and resources.
Communities reliant on extractive activities may face economic volatility and dependence on external markets, making them vulnerable to price fluctuations and market downturns.
Extractive activities often generate significant pollution, releasing harmful substances into the air and water.
For example, mining operations can release toxic chemicals, heavy metals, and acid mine drainage, contaminating water sources and causing long-term damage to aquatic ecosystems.
Similarly, burning fossil fuels for energy releases pollutants such as sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter, contributing to air pollution.
Biobased materials offer several advantages over extractive materials like plastic when it comes to environmental impact.
Biobased materials are derived from renewable resources such as plants, agricultural waste, and algae, which can be grown and harvested repeatedly.
Biobased materials generally have a lower carbon footprint compared to extractive materials. During their growth, plants absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, helping to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions.
As a result, bio-based materials have the potential to be carbon-neutral or even carbon-negative, contributing to efforts to combat climate change.
Many biobased materials are biodegradable and can be broken down naturally by microorganisms into simpler substances.
This allows them to return to the environment without leaving behind persistent pollutants or contributing to long-term waste. In contrast, conventional plastics can persist in the environment for hundreds of years, causing pollution and harming wildlife.
The production of biobased materials often requires less energy compared to the extraction and processing of conventional materials.
This is because the manufacturing processes for biobased materials are typically less energy-intensive and do not require high-temperature processing or the use of harsh chemicals.
Bio-based materials generally have lower levels of toxic substances compared to conventional materials.
Extractive materials like plastic often contain additives and chemicals that can leach into the environment and pose risks to human health and ecosystems.
Bio-based materials, on the other hand, can be produced using safer and more environmentally friendly processes, reducing the release of harmful pollutants.
Biobased materials can play a role in a circular economy, where resources are used efficiently and waste is minimized.
They can be designed to be easily recyclable, compostable, or biodegradable, enabling their reuse in various applications. This helps reduce the demand for new materials and promotes a more sustainable approach to resource management.
The production of biobased materials often requires less energy compared to the extraction and processing of conventional materials.
This is because the manufacturing processes for bio-based materials are typically less energy-intensive and do not require high-temperature processing or the use of harsh chemicals.
Biobased materials generally have lower levels of toxic substances compared to conventional materials.
Extractive materials like plastic often contain additives and chemicals that can leach into the environment and pose risks to human health and ecosystems.
Bio-based materials, on the other hand, can be produced using safer and more environmentally friendly processes, reducing the release of harmful pollutants.
Biobased materials can play a role in a circular economy, where resources are used efficiently and waste is minimized.
They can be designed to be easily recyclable, compostable, or biodegradable, enabling their reuse in various applications. This helps reduce the demand for new materials and promotes a more sustainable approach to resource management.
Find and use biobased materials.
Verdatica provides the data you need use sustainable materials effectively in design, production and reporting.
Sustainable Materials Library.
Our comprehensive registry of material properties and sustainability metrics empowers manufacturers, designers, brands, and decision-makers with the information they need to integrate biobased materials into operations easily.
In development
Sustainable Materials Selector.
A powerful utility to find like-for-like sustainable, biobased materials to replace petrochemical plastic and other non-renewable materials, and manage selection, analysis, and benchmarking.
Sustainable Materials Library
Our comprehensive registry of material properties and sustainability metrics empowers manufacturers, designers, brands, and decision-makers with the information they need to integrate biobased materials into operations easily
In development
Sustainable Materials Selector
A powerful utility to find like-for-like sustainable, biobased materials to replace petrochemical plastic and other non-renewable materials, and manage selection, analysis, and benchmarking
Discover and learn.
There is much to know about new sustainable and bio-circular materials.
We provide insights, commentary, published data and more on developments within the sustainable economy.
Find partners.
If you need specialists to accelerate your sustainable or bio-circular material project, design, produce or promote your product.
Investors.
We’re looking for investors to help us make sustainable, biobased materials available to industry at scale. Partners who see that accelerating the change to sustainable alternatives can offer both commercial returns and address the environmental challenge.