The startup traceless materials from Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH) is an innovator in the field of sustainable material technologies. The company has now announced a strategic partnership with Mondi, a leading global packaging and paper manufacturer. The aim of the collaboration is to promote the use of traceless®, a novel and natural plastic alternative, throughout the entire paper industry. traceless materials was significantly supported in its business development by the Startup Port @TUHH.
The bioeconomy start-up traceless material has developed a nature-based and environmentally friendly alternative to plastic: The company, which is based at Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH), produces the compostable biomaterial traceless® from plant residues from industrial grain processing. This is a regenerative, biocircular and certified plastic-free granulate made from plant residues that can be composted in the garden.
The recently announced partnership with Mondi is an important step for traceless in its mission to significantly reduce global plastic pollution. Mondi is recognised for its sustainable business practices and global presence in the paper and packaging industry.
Environmental impact of conventional plastic coatings compared to the traceless® solution
Conventional paper coatings often use synthetic plastics to improve the sealing and barrier properties of the paper. These coatings, which are usually derived from non-renewable fossil resources, are not biodegradable under industrial composting conditions.
In contrast, traceless® is bio-based on plant residues and naturally compostable. It decomposes in a short time without leaving any harmful residues. The partnership between traceless and Mondi aims to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and reduce the amount of unnecessary plastic waste by offering an alternative to conventional plastic coatings with traceless®. At the same time, recyclability for existing paper recycling loops is ensured. This development meets the increasing demand from consumers and authorities for environmentally friendly packaging solutions.
Anne Lamp, CEO and co-founder of traceless materials, explains: “Our collaboration with Mondi is more than just a partnership; it’s a powerful combination of innovation and scale. Together, we are poised to transform the paper coating industry by implementing our traceless® coating alternative at a scale that only a company like Mondi can achieve. This is an important step towards a sustainable future where our material becomes the standard in everyday products.”
Marko Schuster, COO Functional Paper and Films at Mondi, explains: “This partnership fits perfectly with Mondi’s commitment to making packaging and paper sustainable from the ground up. Working with traceless® allows us to introduce innovative, natural solutions to our customers, further enhancing our approach to responsible production and consumption. Together, we are taking the next step in developing solutions that contribute to a circular economy.”
About traceless materials:
The bioeconomy start-up traceless materials GmbH was founded in 2020 by Anne Lamp and Johanna Baare at the TU Hamburg. With the natural biomaterial traceless®, made from agricultural industry residues, the team wants to make a real contribution to solving global plastic pollution and, as a biomaterial pioneer, drive forward the green transformation of the materials sector.
Following the successful completion of a €36.6 million Series A financing round, the team has started construction of the first large-scale production plant in Hamburg in 2024 – an important step on the way to industrialising the technology. The project is being funded with 5,128,401 euros from the Federal Ministry’s Environmental Innovation Programme.
For the development of product applications, traceless is cooperating with European brand suppliers and manufacturers such as OTTO, Lufthansa and C&A. A first pilot product in the packaging sector has been successfully tested on the market since 2022. The company has received several awards since its foundation, including the German Founder’s Prize and the German Sustainability Award/Next Economy Award.
Further information on the founding history of traceless materials via Startup Stories
About the Mondi Group:
Mondi is a global leader in the packaging and paper industry, manufacturing products that are sustainable from the ground up. Mondi employs 22,000 people in more than 30 countries and operates an integrated business model with competences along the entire value chain. Customers are offered a wide range of innovative solutions for end consumers and industrial end uses. Sustainability is at the centre of the corporate strategy. Mondi has the ambitious goal of focussing exclusively on circular solutions by 2030. In 2023, Mondi will generate sales of 7.3 billion euros and an adjusted EBITDA of 1.2 billion euros. Mondi is listed as a premium company on the London Stock Exchange (MNDI), where it is included in the FTSE100 index, and has a secondary listing on the JSE Limited (MNP).
