Polybion has reportedly announced the world’s first bacterial cellulose biomanufacturing plant as well as successfully closed a Series A funding round of USD 4.4 million led by Blue Horizon.

At full capacity, the industrial-scale solar-powered bacterial cellulose manufacturing plant of Polybion will produce nearly 1.1 million sq. ft per year of its proprietary biotextile Celium®. The company is using the new proceeds to expand its carbon-neutral biomanufacturing plant, deploy Celium into consumer goods, and increase research and development efforts.

Axel Gómez-Ortigoza, the Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Polybion stated that the production upscale of Celium, a sustainable option to petroleum-derived synthetics and animal-based textiles, is a major step on the company’s aim to bring possibility and performance to the latest material engineers and designers.

It should be noted that Polybion was founded by Bárbara González Rolón and Mexican siblings Axel and Alexis Gómez-Ortigoza in 2015. They developed the technology and tools to grow high-performance bio-collected material by exploiting living organisms such as bacteria and increasing the cycling of agro-industrial food waste.

Using waste as raw material and producing, designing, and finishing products under one facility is the highlight of the long-term strategy of Polybion.

Celium® is the first in a new biomaterial series the company plans to develop. It is produced from cellulose, the most versatile and abundant material on Earth. Celium is an animal-free leather replacement with high-performance, distinct characteristics that will assure it becomes a new benchmark material for sportswear, fashion, and automotive applications.

Polybion anticipates reaching Celium®’s optimum per year production capacity by Q3 of next year to meet the existing demand from global brand partnerships.

For the record, Blue Horizon is a global leader in the future of food. The company is expediting the shift to a new sustainable food system that provides impressive returns for investors as well as the planet.

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https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/polybion-completes-development-of-worlds-first-bacterial-cellulose-biomanufacturing-facility-301501949.html