Mango Materials offer methane-derived alternatives for plastic

A Biotech startup, founded by a woman, called Mango Materials promises a revolution in sustainability through biotech sciences. The co-founders of the company are engineers Allison Pieja, Ph.D., Molly Morse, Ph.D., and environmental microbiologist Anne Schauer- Gimenez, Ph.D.

The company’s key invention involves the production of a biodegradable biopolymer called polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) which is made by the ‘methane fermentation’ process on the methane collected from biogas which claims to be an effective plastic alternative.

Mango Materials’ PHA pellets, called  YOPP and YOPP+ are an eco-friendly alternative as they are wholly compostable. As revealed by Morse, the company also targets to use PHA in place of plastic for clothing and shoes; injection molding applications and daily items like jars, bottles, bags, etc.

According to NASA, methane is a potent greenhouse gas that can be used for multiple innovations in the industrial sector. It also helps to control climate change. Mango Materials collaborated with the local wastewater treatment plants, landfills, and agricultural plants to take their methane waste for the fermentation process and produce P3HB (PHA).