Balena

Founded in 2020, Balena aims at developing high-performance bio-based, biodegradable and recyclable materials for durable consumer goods in the fashion, footwear and lifestyle industries, helping to replace traditional plastics – which are toxic and polluting – with circular solutions. The company designs innovative materials intended for industrial-scale production, conceived as true ‘drop-in’ solutions: they can be processed using existing machinery meeting the mechanical, chemical and safety standards required by leading global partners. 

At The New State of Materials, Balena showcases a selection of products made with BioCir® materials, a family of advanced bio-based thermoplastic materials derived from renewable resources such as castor beans, natural oils and polysaccharides. Engineered to maximize bio-based content without compromising performance or scalability, thanks to an approach that combines advanced chemistry and circular design, BioCir® materials products offer performance comparable to the ones made of conventional plastics, with the added benefit of safer compositions and controlled, verifiable end-of-life pathways.