Newlight Technologies (AirCarbon)
Americas
Huntington Beach
,
United States
Scaleup
FOUNDED
2003
HEADCOUNT
21-100
FUNDING
Series D+
Keywords:
fermentation, gas_fermentation, bioplastics, bacteria, CO2_utilization
BUSINESS
Founded in 2003 and headquartered in Huntington Beach, California, Newlight Technologies produces AirCarbon, a polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) bioplastic made by fermenting methane and air using naturally occurring ocean-derived microorganisms. AirCarbon is positioned as a carbon-negative, ocean-degradable replacement for petroleum-based plastics, with applications in foodware (Restore brand), fashion accessories (Covalent brand), and industrial materials; customers and partners include Shake Shack, Nike, Target, H&M, Disney, US Foods, Sony, and Sumitomo. The company operates a commercial production facility (Eagle 3) in Huntington Beach opened in 2020 and has announced a second larger facility in Hannibal, Ohio in partnership with Long Ridge Energy Terminal, with methane supplied via a 15-year agreement with CNX Resources.
BIOTECH INVOLVEMENT
Core industrial biotechnology. Newlight uses a proprietary biocatalyst system, described as naturally occurring marine microorganisms, to convert methane and air via gas fermentation into intracellular PHB polymer. The organism accumulates PHB as an energy storage material, which is then extracted and processed into a meltable thermoplastic resin. The process is methanotrophic fermentation using unmodified (non-GMO) microorganisms on methane feedstock sourced from agricultural digesters, landfills, or captured industrial emissions.
TECHNOLOGY PLATFORM
microbial fermentation; PHA production
PRIMARY PRODUCTS
Aircarbon PHA powder and pellets