Solegear Bioplastics
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Public TSX.V:GDNP | |
Industry | Bioplastics |
Founded | 2006 |
Founder | Toby Reid |
Headquarters | Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada |
Key people |
Paul Antoniadis, CEO & Director |
Products |
Polysole Traverse |
Website | goodnatured.ca |
Good Natured Products Inc. (TSX V:SGB), formerly Solegear, is an award-winning, publicly traded bioplastics company founded in 2006 and based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Good Natured is an innovator in the field of next generation bioplastics made from annually renewable plant-based sources. Its technology is based on combining a bio-based polymer, such as polylactic acid (PLA), with non-toxic additives to increases various mechanical, processing and physical performance characteristics of the material.[1]
Product Development
Research and Development
Good Natured began its research and development efforts in 2006, focusing on the development of bio-based, high-performance, compostable injection molded plastics. Polysole was developed using Green Chemistry with an initial focus on applications requiring greater performance from a strength, durability and processing standpoint. Later development produced technologies and materials for thermoforming and film applications, also with increased performance characteristics. Good Natured has consistently been developing its technologies in collaboration with leading Canadian research institutions.
NRC Industrial Materials Institute, Boucherville, Quebec
Good Natured signed a joint collaboration research agreement with NRC's Industrial Materials Institute in February 2012, and performs applied research with the Polymer Bioproducts team, which is led by Nathalie Legros.
École Polytechnique, Montréal, Quebec
Good Natured has been collaborating with École Polytechnique on bioplastics technology development since July 2010, working with the Chemical Engineering group under Dr. Charles Dubois.
University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia
Good Natured performs its R&D with the Chemical and Biological Engineering Department at the University of British Columbia.[2]
NRC-IRAP
Canada's National Research Council through its support institute, NRC-IRAP (Industrial Research Assistance Program), awards funding to Canadian businesses focused on developing proprietary and breakthrough technological innovations. Good Natured has been a consistent recipient of IRAP funding since 2007.[3]
Western Economic Diversification Canada
In July 2015, Good Natured was selected to receive funding from the Western Innovation (WINN) Initiative. WINN is a program offered by Western Economic Diversification Canada, a federal department in the government. Designed to spur innovation and economic development, WINN helps small and medium-sized technology businesses to commercialize their products, services and processes. WINN funding was allocated to 27 businesses across British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba this year.[4]
Partnerships
r-pac International Corporation
In 2014, r-pac and Good Natured completed an exclusive agreement to accelerate the production, sales and distribution of Good Natured's Polysole and Traverse thermoformed packaging. r-pac delivers a wide portfolio of packaging and products across a broad range of categories to many global brands, including Target and Walmart.[5]
Thermoform Engineered Quality (TEQ), Huntley, Illinois
In December 2014, Good Natured signed a strategic agreement with US-based TEQ, an industry leader in retail and medical packaging, to accelerate the growth and expansion of Good Natured's bioplastics into identified growth sectors of the rigid packaging marketplace.[6]
Ex-Tech Plastics, Richmond, Illinois
Good Natured and Ex-Tech Plastics, a US-based plastic extruder entered into commercial partnership in March 2015 to manufacture and distribute Good Natured's next generation Traverse bioplastics in the North American market.[7]
Columbia Plastics, Surrey, British Columbia
In May 2015, Solegear Bioplastic Technologies Inc. solidified a partnership with Columbia Plastics Ltd, a custom injection molding company, to manufacture and distribute products made with Solegear’s Polysole® bioplastics.[8] In July 2015 they agreed to launch six sustainable bioplastic office products (Clip-Mate™, Memo-Mate™, File-Mate™, Pencil-Mate™, Self-Stacker and Desk Tray) in a commercial agreement with TOPS Products Canada.[9]
Intellectual Property Development
International Patents
Good Natured currently has four patent-pending composite materials across its two product lines.
Awards & Recognition
2014 City of Vancouver Award of Excellence for Business Innovation
In June 2014, Solegear was awarded a City of Vancouver Award of Excellence for Business Innovation. The recipients of this award were nominated by the public, and chosen by the City Council based on the nominees’ influence, impact and achievements in their category.[10]
2014 GLOBE Association Award for Best Emerging Technology
In March 2014, Solegear Bioplastics was awarded the GLOBE Foundation Best Emerging Technology Award for 2014. The award acknowledges the technology with the most promising potential to provide the greatest financial return from broad commercial application.[11]
2013 Global Cleantech Cluster Association Later Stage Award
In November 2013, Solegear Bioplastics announced that it had won the Best in BioFuels/BioEnergy from the Global Cleantech Cluster Association (GCCA). The GCCA Global Top 10 Winners were selected by 22 Cleantech venture capital and private equity investors and serial entrepreneurs, who collectively manage over $3.5 billion in global clean technology investment.[12]
2012 Banff Venture Forum
In October 2012, Solegear was chosen as the Best Presenting Company for Energy & Cleantech at the 14th annual Banff Venture Forum in Alberta, Canada. With the 2012 Forum hosting in excess of 40 venture capital firms, 47 presenting companies and 350 delegates, it is Canada's premier growth company financing event.[13]
BCIC New Ventures
In September 2010, Solegear received three awards in the BCIC New Ventures competition, including the BCIC Economic Impact Prize and the BC Hydro Sustainability Prize.[14]
Frost & Sullivan
In August 2010, Solegear was recognized by Frost & Sullivan with the 2010 New Product Innovation of the Year Award.[15]
References
- ↑ "Solegear Develops 100% Natural, Biodegradable Polymer". SAE International. 4 October 2010. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
- ↑ "Solegear Secures Research Partnerships With Top Canadian Universities". Solegear Bioplastics. 21 November 2011. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
- ↑ "Canadian bioplastics provider Solegear partnering with National Research Council". Canadian Plastics. 16 September 2012. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
- ↑ "Solegear Receives $1.6 Million in Innovation Funding from the Government of Canada". Solegear Bioplastics Inc. 25 July 2014. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
- ↑ "r-pac and Solegear Complete Agreement to Accelerate Commercialization of New Sustainable Packaging Material". Market Wired. 28 May 2014. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
- ↑ "Solegear and TEQ Sign Agreement to Increase Use of Sustainable Packaging Material". Reuters. 16 December 2014. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
- ↑ "Solegear and Ex-Tech sign letter of intent for new joint venture". New Materials News. 22 June 2015. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
- ↑ "Solegear and Columbia Plastics Collaborate to Bring Proprietary Polysole(R) Plant-Based Plastics to the North American Marketplace". Market Wired. 7 May 2015. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
- ↑ "Solegear and Columbia Plastics team up for bioplastic office products". Canadian Plastics. 10 June 2015. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
- ↑ "Solegear Bioplastics Recognized By The City Of Vancouver As A Leading Business Innovator". Solegear Bioplastic Technologies Inc. 23 June 2014. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
- ↑ "The 2014 GLOBE Awards Winners". GLOBE Group. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
- ↑ "Solegear Bioplastics Wins Global Cleantech Cluster Association 2013 Later Stage Award". Solegear Bioplastic Technologies Inc. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
- ↑ "Energy & Cleantech Stream Presenting Companies" (PDF). Capital Road. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
- ↑ "2010 BCIC Awards and BCIC-New Ventures Competition award $391,000 to Tech entrepreneurs". New Ventures BC. 24 September 2010. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
- ↑ "Frost & Sullivan Recognizes Solegear for Pioneering Polysole® Bioplastic". Frost & Sullivan. 31 August 2010. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
External links
- Goodnatured.ca Official Good Natured Website
- Bloomberg.com Stock Price on Bloomberg
- Solegear Featured on Global BC TV