baCta - Revolutionary Resources
We produce high-quality, carbon-negative natural rubber using engineered microorganisms to address the major issues associated with this critical and irreplaceable raw material: CO2 emissions, deforestation, oil-dependence and sovereignty.
We are using the power of synthetic biology to fully decarbonise the rubber industry, and keep the benefits of this critical raw material, without the harm.
<aside> 🌍 Our mission is to provide critical, clean and sustainable raw materials for humans.
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Natural rubber is a critical commodity in our modern world, present everywhere in our daily lives, and demand is growing.
Half of the world’s rubber comes from hevea, or rubber tree. The other half is synthetic rubber, derived from petroleum.
Hevea culture causes problems very similar to palm oil: the trees only grow in tropical climates, and their exploitation causes massive deforestation. Natural rubber supply depends on a handful of countries, making it very vulnerable to local climate events. As we use only one strain of Hevea for the entire production, a disease could wipe out the entire tree population, which happened in Brazil during the XXth century. Production of natural rubber is also very slow to adapt, and it takes 7 to 10 years for a tree to be productive.
Synthetic rubber is an alternative to natural rubber, but it has its own problems: production is based on oil extraction and consumption, a major source of greenhouse gas emissions. Synthetic rubber is non-biodegradable and its production involves toxic chemicals and materials, which has a negative impact on the environment.
Harnessing the latest innovations in synthetic biology and a proprietary synthetic organelle technology, we transfer the natural enzymatic machinery of rubber production inside engineered micro-organisms.
The bacteria are able to produce high-quality natural rubber from renewable feedstock, addressing the major issues associated with this critical raw material.
<aside> 🚀 We provide a reliable and flexible supply of high-quality, carbon-negative natural rubber without any fossil fuel or harmful input
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We are hosted at an INSERM lab in the heart of Paris (Learning Planet Institute), we have validated a proof of concept and have achieved a first synthesis of the polymer in our lab.
We have very strong commercial traction, with several LoIs from potential customers in the footwear and apparel industry. We need to produce enough natural rubber to get the first physical prototypes in the next 12 months.
We are closing a first funding round, with the goal of scaling up production and reach a pilot scale as quickly as possible. To reach this ambitious first milestone, and the many others that will come afterwards, we are hiring an exceptional team!