BioCir® materials are circular due to a combination of factors. Their material composition is carefully chosen to promote biodegradation, and they are designed to compost effectively under controlled conditions. Through rigorous testing, BioCir® materials have been proven to biodegrade without leaving harmful byproducts such as toxins or microplastics, making them truly sustainable and contributing to a circular economy.

Balena's material end-of-life process is supported by our proprietary global compost facilities partnerships, ensuring efficient waste management for partner brands. Since our establishment, we have been working closely with industrial composters around the world to measure and test real-life biodegradation, forging unique alliances that guarantee scalable solutions for compostable consumer products like our own BioCir® slides, which have been composted since 2022. In our current collaboration with Vivobarefoot on the first-ever compostable shoe, we will integrating the Re-Vivo take-back program to guide customers' shoes from the customer to a local industrial compost facility in the UK.

BioCir® materials are DIN CERTCO Biobased and Industrially Compostable certified. Our composition is based on fully biodegradable materials that meet U.S. (ASTM D6400-04) and E.U. (EN 13432) standards for composting in industrial composting facilities, including the ISO 14855 - biodegradation test under industrial compost conditions, the ISO OECD 208 - compost quality test (for eco-toxicity & heavy metals).

BioCir® materials comply with EN 13432 standard which requires the compostable plastics to disintegrate after 12 weeks and completely biodegrade after 6 months. That means that 90 percent or more of the plastic material will have been converted to CO2. The remaining share is converted into water and biomass – i.e. valuable compost.

Once a product made of BioCir® reaches its end of use, it can be taken back and sent to an industrial compost facility and placed into the compost pile. A combination of oxygen, microorganisms, heat, and moisture breaks longer polymers into smaller fragments, which further biodegrade into carbon dioxide, water, and renewable biomass, consumed as an energy source for living soil-enriching bacteria, leaving behind no waste or contamination. Using this regenerative biomass for the next generation of BioCir® materials removes CO2 from the atmosphere and keeps it stored throughout the entire product's lifecycle.

The degradation process of goods made from BioCir® begins only in a specialized industrial composting environment where controlled conditions (e.g. bacteria, temperature, humidity, acidity, aeration) are given. As a result, degradation does not occur during typical consumer use. To ensure durability, we subject our materials to rigorous accelerated weather tests, including exposure to UV radiation, heat, and humidity, to ensure they maintain their performance when used at the highest level possible. Therefore, BioCir® products are designed to maintain their integrity and functionality throughout their intended lifespan, offering longevity comparable to conventional plastic materials.

The biobased content component of our materials is derived from simple and readily available plant-based sources such as castor beans, oils, and polysaccharides. We prioritize sustainable sourcing and actively collaborate with our suppliers to ensure that our materials do not compete with food resources.

No, there is no microplastic output during the composting process of BioCir® materials. The only byproducts generated by bacteria during this process are carbon dioxide (CO2), water, and renewable biomass. This is due to the careful selection of feedstock materials and the controlled composting conditions, which ensure complete breakdown without the formation of microplastics.

Eventually, it will biodegrade after a certain period of time.

The price of BioCir® varies depending on quantity and volume. We remain competitive with similar materials on the market, particularly high-quality TPU or PP. For specific pricing inquiries, we recommend contacting us directly to discuss your requirements and receive a tailored quote.

BioCir® materials offer versatile durable and high-performance applications in consumer goods industries manufacturing across various processes, including injection molding, extrusions, and 3D printing. Our materials enable the production of items on a mass scale without requiring specialized equipment. Conventional production equipment can be utilized for processing BioCir materials, enhancing the ease of integration into existing manufacturing setups. This versatility ensures that BioCir® can be seamlessly incorporated into a wide range of manufacturing processes, offering sustainable solutions without compromising performance, efficiency or quality.

BioCir® is not a specific polymer but a unique composition that includes naturally occurring feedstock and modifiers bound with a biodegradable polymer. This composition creates a never-before-seen  synergy of circularity (biodegradability) and performance (durability) in BioCir®. Our composition is based on fully biodegradable materials that meet U.S. (ASTM D6400-04) and E.U. (EN 13432) standards.

Balena developed BioCir®Flex3D - material compatible with both FGF (Fused Granular Fabrication) and FFF (Fused Filament Fabrication) 3D printing methods. This versatility allows users to leverage Balena's materials across a wide range of 3D printers, giving them the flexibility to optimize their production processes according to their specific requirements.