Newlight Technologies

The technique of using carbon from the air came from Princeton University and Northwestern University in 2003. Newlight claims to be the first in the world to commercialize this technology, and have acquired a patent for it. Carbon sequestration is used to producing a thermoplastic that can match the performance of oil-based plastics and is cost effectively as its raw material is free.

Newlight Technologies is solving two pressing environment problems with its product: rising levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, as well as land and ocean pollution due to fossil-based plastics.

The team uses a biotechnological process to combine air and biogas (or methane based carbon) to produce a new plastic called AirCarbon. The company aims to produce their plastic on a global level to get rid of conventional plastic and believe sufficient market-driven demands can help in reducing carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere. Newlight’s clients and partners are global brands such as Dell, Sprint, Virgin, KI, HP, and The Body Shop.

Recently, the company has also found a way to use microbes to convert methane, another greenhouse gas, into a material that can be used to produce utensils, glasses, and even fashion accessories like purses. Not only does this technology reduce the amount of methane present in the atmosphere, but also objects made from this material are as easy to break down in water as cellulose. Currently, the material is being used to replace single-use plastic straws and cutlery through Restore, the company's new foodware brand. The material is also being used to make wallets and handbags through a separate brand called Covalent. 

The company was started in 2003 by Mark Herrema and Kenton Kimmel. Newlight was awarded "Innovation of the Year" by Popular Science (2014), "Technology Pioneer" by the World Economic Forum (2015), "Technology Excellence Award" by PC Magazine (2014), "Company of the Year" by CleanTech OC (2014), "Biomaterial of the Year" by the Nova-Institute (2013), and an R&D 100 Awards as "one of the 100 most significant innovations of the year" in 2013.