Natnov Bioscience, a recent start-up from Odisha has tackled the issue of environmental and food waste challenges by converting seafood waste into bioplastics.
Located in Balasore, Odisha – Natnov Bioscience uses seafood waste to convert it into biopolymers, which is a raw material for making bioplastics. This can be used in various fields such as packaging, agriculture and functional food.
Siddhartha Pati, Scientific director of Natnov, said “Bioplastics offer a promising solution to mitigate the environmental damage caused by traditional plastics. They present a practical and appealing alternative to conventional fossil fuel-based plastics. We are transforming food waste into biopolymers using a proprietary bioconversion process,”
“This environment-friendly innovation also tackles the pressing issue of food waste,” he added.
Natnov Bioscience Pvt. Ltd. is also recognizedunder Startup India and supported by the Odisha govt’s agriculture and farmers’ empowerment department.
It’s revenue in 2023 was estimated to be $110 million.The startup has already produced biopolymers from 5,000 metric tonnes of seafood waste in a year.
As per their website, Currently they are actively exporting their products to several countries across the world, including Thailand, Israel, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Canada and USA.
Pati told “Agriculture and pharmaceutical industries procure the biopolymer for manufacturing medicine and bio-stimulant, respectively. Most importantly, it can be used for making bioplastics,”
“The company specializes in transforming food waste into biopolymers using a proprietary bioconversion process. Our product looks like conventional plastic. We are yet to release the bioplastic items in the market,” he added.
He also mentioned that their goal is to create a cycle where trash turns into useful stuff. Biodegradable bioplastics don’t add to the pollution in oceans and water bodies, which is good for the environment. These bioplastics are strong and durable, so they can be used for many things like wrapping and preservation. They might even help food stay fresh longer due to its anti microbial properties.
The world is now demanding sustainable businesses and according to Pati, the market for bioplastics is growing globally, offering a significant opportunities for many biotech start-ups to grow and succeed.
India produces over 3.5 million metric tonnes of plastic waste every year, with 80% of it ending up in landfills or ecosystems.
To tackle this, it’s essential that our government should encourage more such startups in India.
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