Creating a system in which all materials circulate at their highest value requires us to step back and relook at the entire concept of waste. Reducing emissions, minimizing the consumption of non-renewable resources and reducing waste generation highlights the importance of circularity, helping us achieve a more transparent and sustainable planet. 

At Balena, this is what our commitment to the circular economy is focused on, the design and development of new materials that reach their end of life responsibly, completing a fully circular process by returning materials to the ground safely, without harming or polluting the land and the seas. We are working towards a future whereby all consumer goods products, across different industries have a clear end of life solution, and in doing this, disrupting the material industry through innovating and developing cutting edge circular materials to replace hazardous, polluting, non-compostable materials currently being used. 

The rise of the circular economy

The reset of our current linear take-make-waste model won't happen overnight, and will require systemic changes in business operations, consumer behavior and policy. Moving towards a more circular economy to address the critical failures of a linear system is critical to the near-term next steps. 

A circular economy can provide the tools and models to guide a transition away from the current linear system. The circular economy is intentionally designed to use less material in production, packaging and delivery and aims to keep existing materials in circulation at their highest level and for their best use for as long as possible. With only 1% of fashion items being recycled, we want to implement new methods to manage a product's end of life that are both practical, easy and scalable.

That is why Balena has taken the concept of the circular economy a step further, by introducing BioCycling: Enabled through our BioCir™ material, products reach their end of life responsibly through a biological recycling mechanism, including full decomposition and biodegradation of the material back to the ground safely in an industrial compost facility,  completing a fully circular process required for a sustainable future. 

How can we achieve circularity? 

To achieve true circularity through BioCycling, we need to design materials that create a continuous circular loop required for a sustainable future. Today, such Biodegradable polymers already in the market are not advanced enough to include the features that conventional and polluting plastic materials include, such as durability, flexibility, high performance, and softness. 

At Balena, we went on a journey to try and minimize this gap, by developing state-of-the-art compostable and biodegradable thermoplastic materials that include the set of features companies and consumers are looking for. We’re thrilled to introduce our BioCir™ material, developed by Balena, the first flexible and fully compostable thermoplastic in the world. BioCir™ products reach the end of their life responsibly, including full decomposition and biodegrading of the material into the ground safely. By modifying and binding natural, easily scalable ingredients with biodegradable polymers, BioCir™ is an injectable, soft, and durable material that is 100% compostable and biodegradable. Synergized effects between the ingredients comprising our material, support our efforts for the creation of a never seen, touched, or smelled homogeneous, thermoplastic material. We are collaborating with leading global brands to implement BioCir™ and make it accessible to consumers looking for sustainable and durable products. 

A combination of biodegradable polymers and easily scalable ingredients allows for the creation of an injectable, soft, and durable material that is 100% compostable and biodegradable. BioCir™ products reach their end of life responsibly through a biological recycling mechanism, which involves the full decomposition and biodegrading of the material back into the ground safely, and by that completing a circular process required for a more sustainable future. We are collaborating with leading global brands to implement  BioCir™ and make it accessible to consumers looking for more sustainable products through injection molding, extrusions and as filament for 3D printing.

Click here to learn more about our BioCir material 

Introducing the BioCir™ Slides

The first in the world to be made entirely of BioCir™, encapsulating our vision for a complete loop for a more prosperous and sustainable future, say hello to our BioCir™ Slides!  

Designed and manufactured in Italy, the BioCir™ Slides are as fashionable as they are circular. Made with natural colorant, cinnamon, and state-of-the-art, fully compostable material that is focused on protecting the earth and seas, our BioCir™ Slides are here to disrupt the fashion industry. After use, through our take-back program, the BioCir™ Slides are composted in one of our industrial compost facilities, ensuring the full decomposition and biodegradation of the material back into the ground safely, completing a fully circular process. 

At Balena, creating a circular economy is not some greenwashing tactic, but a guiding principle that leads us to reinvent products, services, complex supply chains and entire industries. We believe that in the near future, all consumer products, across diverse industries, will have a clear end of life solution that will deliver value to our society not just now, but forever. Learning and understanding is the first step in what will be a journey to responsible consumption.