Revolutionary biomaterials
for forward thinkers.
Performance
meets possibility.
Using cutting-edge technology modeled on nature’s own design, Polybion™ grows premium, high-performance biomaterials from fruit waste.
From linear to circular
From leftover to constructive
From old ways to Celium™
We believe biology is the best tool to face our global challenges. We use locally produced agro-industrial fruit waste as raw material to craft forward-thinking biomaterials such as Celium™- Premium Cultivated Cellulose. By manufacturing with the building blocks of life and circularizing supply chains, we produce a superior material while prioritizing our planet.
Natural systems are cyclical; waste becomes nutrients that initiate new growth. By learning from nature, Polybion™ developed a production model that is not linear but a loop, simultaneously alleviating three major environmental problems: livestock, food waste, and plastic. This represents a paradigm shift from centuries of resource-mining practices to the regenerative cultivation of resources. Polybion™ is proud to be leading this charge.
Founded by brothers Axel and Alexis Gómez Ortigoza with Bárbara González Rolón, PhD, Polybion™ is a diverse group of biotechnologists, chemists, biologists, engineers, financiers, creatives, designers, and political scientists. We take inspiration from natural processes and organisms, and we share a common dream to create a better world.
Impact requires scale
Bio innovations and sustainable solutions face a common challenge: scalability.
By 2030, as the consumer class reaches nearly 5 billion, affordability and accessibility become crucial for next-gen materials like Celium™ - Premium Cultivated Cellulose.
In 2022, we reached a pivotal milestone by launching FOAK I, the first-ever bacterial cellulose production facility. Spanning 14,000 sq. ft., it's designed to produce 1.1 million sq. ft. of Celium™ annually.
Our scaling strategy is built on three pillars: volume, consistent quality, and competitive pricing. Unlike other biomaterials, our process uses minimal infrastructure and fruit waste, leveraging existing large-scale fermentation equipment. This not only makes scaling up more feasible but also ensures our technology can be easily adopted worldwide.
During 2024, we're focusing on automating our processes to enhance efficiency, quality, and reduce cycle times.
Where biology meets creativity, the future unfolds.
Celium™
Cel (derived from the word cellulose, the most abundant organic polymer on Earth) + ium (the Latin suffix used in chemical elements)
Celium™- Premium Cultivated Cellulose, is grown by feeding bacteria with agroindustrial fruit waste. A versatile textile with endless design possibilities, it can be customized by color, graining, embossing, and water resistance—all while preserving its exceptional strength.
Celium™ is vegan and organic, and we control the thickness through its growth, making it easy to tailor. Due to its biological nature, each piece of Celium™ is unique and distinct as a fingerprint, lending it the hallmark of luxury.
Nature chose cellulose to structure many of its most precious creations. We’ve captured that wisdom in Celium™.
Technology
We industrialized cellular agriculture to biofabricate Celium™. Combining material science with bioengineering, our technology is scalable, modular, and high yielding.
In cellular agriculture, cells from fungi, bacteria, or mammals consume nutrients in a sterile environment that promotes growth. We grow Celium™ by feeding bacteria with agro-industrial fruit waste. But first, we set up the perfect environment for the cells to self-organize and they create the cellulose structure as a metabolic by-product. Once formed, Celium’s cell-based membrane undergoes a sustainable stabilization process to achieve its high-performance characteristics.
Our production model is EPA, REACH, and ZDHC compliant and concentrated within a 30-mile radius, dramatically reducing our carbon footprint. There is currently enough of the fruit waste we use to produce 168,000,000 square feet of Celium™ annually (and we have identified three other types of local fruit waste equally abundant). With zero hazardous chemicals released in any part of the process, nor significant biomass outputs between growth cycles, Celium™ is as circular as it gets.
Celebrating the interaction between fashion and design at the GANNI x Co-Made Exhibition 2024.
- Published on
- August 7, 2024
At Polybion, we are constantly inspired by the incredible potential of innovative materials to reshape our world.
We are excited to share that our journey with Celium™—our Premium Cultivated Cellulose—continues to inspire remarkable designs across various disciplines.
The "Fabrics of the Future" initiative by GANNI has been a catalyst for innovation, encouraging the exploration of new material categories that are not only more sustainable but also versatile, inspiring and forward thinking. We are thrilled to see Celium™ being a core material in GANNI’s new partnership with Wallpaper* China, an initiative aimed at supporting and elevating China’s rising design talent through Wallpaper* annual Co-Made project. This year, three exceptional designers are involved, with two of them pushing the boundaries of design and aesthetics with Celium™, showcasing its potential far beyond fashion.
The project is named “Co-Made”, punnily and phonetically translated into Chinese “可美了” (kemeile), which means, 'such beauty.' All pieces are inspired by the textile used to create them.
We are excited to witness how Celium™ has inspired two Chinese designers to explore the interaction between fashion and design, leading to the creation of beautiful homeware pieces for the GANNI x Wallpaper* Co-Made exhibition in August 2024.
The first, Nadi is a product designer who blends design and art, focusing on materials. She starts with sustainability, deconstructing and reimagining the production process. By exploring the form and function of materials beyond their basic use, she encourages viewers to consider the original and existing identities of the material.
One of the highlights of this collaboration is the creation of The Cartilage Lamp Series made with Celium™. This avant-garde collaboration fuses cutting-edge technology with design, creating lamps that are as flexible as they are supportive. The core, forged from spring steel, serves as the skeleton of the object and provides unparalleled elasticity and strength, while the Celium™ wrap evokes the elegance of a soft-bodied organism.
The second, Xiaoya Wang, co-founder of Shanghai One Week Design, explores contemporary upholstered furniture. Design is integral to her life, and she stays current with trends, thinking outside the box to explore new ideas. Her mission is to create a meaningful future through her design skills and passion. Xiaoya created The Cuddle Sofa and Bench Series using Celium™, blending traditional palm fibers with innovative materials. This collaboration aligns with her commitment to sustainability, merging tradition and future-forward design.
The GANNI x Wallpaper* Co-Made 2024 exhibition will be open from August 13th to August 31st at Youyi Bay, Mi Casa Su Casa Hotel, Aranya, Qinhuangdao.
We invite you to join us and witness firsthand how Celium™ is contributing to the future of design. Stay inspired and continue to innovate.