Atacama Biomaterials

Atacama Biomaterials is a materials science company creating sustainable alternatives to single-use plastics for the packaging industry. The company was spun out of MIT and originated from development work that began in 2019. It was founded by CEO Paloma Gonzalez-Rojas, a material scientist with a Ph.D. from MIT, and CTO Jose Tomas Dominguez, who has a background in industrial deep tech robotics and manufacturing. The founders, both from Chile, named the company after the Atacama Desert, which is increasingly becoming a dumping ground for waste, to symbolize their mission.

The company's core business revolves around its proprietary technology platform that uses artificial intelligence and robotics to develop and manufacture renewable materials. This AI-driven system accelerates the research and innovation process, allowing the firm to create new solutions in months rather than decades. It also refines material formulations in real-time to manage the natural variability of bio-based feedstocks, ensuring consistent quality and lower production costs. Their flagship product, "Woodpack," is a compostable and recyclable flexible film made from recycled paper fibers. This material is designed to match the performance of plastic while offering the environmental benefits of paper, utilizing a low-temperature polymerization process that requires only 11% of the energy used for traditional plastics. It can be used for applications like garment packaging, grocery bags, and can be coated to be heat-sealed on standard packaging lines.

Atacama Biomaterials serves companies looking to reduce their reliance on single-use plastics and comply with sustainability regulations. Initial clients include e-commerce garment retailers, with plans to expand into other sectors like construction. The business model involves producing these biomaterials at scale and selling them to clients; validated applications have been adopted by companies such as Roche. Having participated in accelerators at MIT and Harvard, the company is preparing to scale up production to meet market demand and is closing a financing round in 2025.

Keywords: sustainable packaging, biomaterials, plastic alternatives, circular economy, AI in materials science, robotics manufacturing, Woodpack, compostable film, recycled paper packaging, cleantech, deep tech, bio-based polymers, sustainable materials, carbon footprint reduction, eco-friendly packaging, green technology, material science innovation, single-use plastic replacement, advanced manufacturing, renewable materials