Pollution-Absorbing Bioplastic Materials

The challenge is enormous

Made of Air, a German sustainable materials startup uses its proprietary bioplastic of the same name to absorb pollution. The recyclable material sequesters carbon within it, making it carbon-negative. Made of Air is made primarily from carbon and can store twice as much carbon dioxide as its plastic content. Using the bioplastic, the startup plans to be storing the equivalent of a gigatonne of carbon dioxide per year by 2050.

Made of Air takes advantage of an innovative material called biochar for its carbon-sequestering quality. Biochar is created by burning up biomass without oxygen. When melted down, the biochar in Made of Air can be formed into different shapes using sugar cane as a binding agent. Given its flexibility, the bioplastic material was used in a pair of H&M sunglasses as well as facade modules created for an Audi showroom's exterior.