Traditional flame retardants (FRs) are being phased out due to toxicity, high loading requirements (sometimes up to 70% wt), and high production costs. Green alternatives exist but often underperform, are expensive, or lack scalability.
Meanwhile, the Netherlands produces over 1 million tons of wastewater sludge annually, costing up to €250 million, mostly incinerated in an energy-intensive, emission-heavy process.
BioFire offers a circular solution. Extracted from sludge, it is a first-of-its-kind, biodegradable biopolymer with both flame-retardant and adhesive properties. Scalable and cost-effective, BioFire turns waste into high-value material, reducing disposal costs and emissions while supporting UN sustainability goals.
Impact:
• Environmental: Low-energy, low-chemical extraction from existing biomass
• Health & Safety: Non-toxic alternative to chemical FRs
• Circular Economy: Waste-to-resource innovation
• Geopolitical: Reduces reliance on fossil-based chemicals
BioFire targets the €9B+ global FR market and €10B+ adjacent sectors (adhesives, coatings, composites). Validated for demanding niches like aircraft interiors, it delivers on safety, performance, and sustainability.
Within Biotech Booster, the team will:
• Interview customers to validate market fit, risk tolerance, and pricing
• Develop and test new formulations
• Assess compatibility with conventional materials (e.g. thermosets)
• Benchmark BioFire against commercial FRs under equal conditions
