Bioweg, a German biotech company pioneering biodegradable, high-performance alternatives to acrylic polymer-based microplastics, announced it raised €16 million in a Series A funding round to enable Bioweg to scale operations, commercialize its products, and construct a first-of-its-kind bacterial cellulose production facility in Germany.
Scaling Precision Fermentation for Bacterial Cellulose
Founded in 2019 by Prateek Mahalwar, Ph.D., and Srinivas Karuturi, Bioweg uses precision fermentation to convert food industry byproducts into bacterial cellulose, which is refined with green chemistry to create sustainable, drop-in replacements for fossil-based polymers.
The company currently operates a pilot plant in Quakenbrück and a material science lab in Monheim. The new facility reportedly will scale production from the current 6,000-liter fermentation capacity to meet growing demand for microplastic-free ingredients, while the pilot plant will fulfill near-term customer orders.
Meeting Microplastic Restrictions Mandate
The company reports that Europe’s upcoming restrictions on fossil-based microplastics are driving demand for compliant, high-performance ingredients manufactured at scale within the EU.
Bioweg’s platform is designed to meet this need, enabling straightforward reformulation for industries such as personal care, home care, pharmaceuticals and agriculture.
Prateek Mahalwar, Ph.D., co-founder and CEO, said the funding will allow the company to "move decisively into industrial manufacturing and to support customers as they transition away from microplastics." He added, "our focus is on matching and expanding polymer-level performance with bio-based, biodegradable ingredients produced at European scale.”
Replacement Products Portfolio
Bioweg’s product portfolio is said to address priority use cases. It includes:
- Micbeads: Biodegradable micro-powders for cosmetics, offering premium sensory performance.
- RheoWeg: Bio-based rheology and suspension control solutions for personal and home care.
- AgriWeg: Seed and fertilizer coatings that enhance controlled release and handling.
With production capacity scaling in Germany, Bioweg is set to lead Europe’s transition to sustainable, high-performance ingredients, paving the way for a microplastic-free future.
