Bloodmeal to Bioplastic

A New Zealand Research Commercialisation Success Story

In 2007 Dr Johan Verbeek from University of Waikato’s material science research laboratory discovered a method of making biodegradable plastics from bloodmeal.

In 2008 Novatein Limited was formed and venture capital firm Endeavour Capital invested alongside WaikatoLink to create commercial opportunities for the technology. From 2007-2012 over 23 researchers at the University of Waikato completed materials science research on Novatein to identify ways in which the material could be manipulated to achieve certain properties and characteristics.

Late 2012 WaikatoLink and Wallace Corporation reached agreement on investment into a new entity to build and expand on the work of Novatein, with the objective of creating a much larger company focused on commercialising polymers and materials from prime industry co-products. The new company, called Aduro Biopolymers, spurred co-development and partnership discussions with two NZ companies and Scion for the development of Novatein products for the NZ and export markets, and the development of new products from other feedstock sources.

Audro was a finalist for the Commercial Deal Award at the 2013 KiwiNet Awards.