Traceless is a Hamburg-based bioeconomy startup turning agricultural side streams into a plastic-free, home-compostable biomaterial. By extracting natural polymers from residues of starch and grain processing and converting them into thermoplastic granulate, the company targets single-use plastics and hard-to-recycle packaging with a material that performs like plastic in production and use, but is designed to safely return to nature. https://www.traceless.eu/
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Instead of fossil-based PP, PE or industrially compostable bioplastics, Traceless uses natural polymers that microbes already know how to biodegrade. The granulate runs on standard plastics-converting lines – injection molding, extrusion, coating and film production – making it a true drop-in material for converters and brand owners. It is certified plastic-free, bio-based, free of PFAS and harmful additives, and is home-compostable under natural conditions, avoiding the need for industrial composting infrastructure.
A life cycle assessment shows substantial reductions in environmental footprint: using agricultural residues and a low-energy process, Traceless can cut greenhouse gas emissions and fossil energy demand by around 90% compared to conventional plastics over production and disposal. The first industrial demonstration plant near Hamburg is already producing several thousand tons of granulate per year, with additional plants planned to meet global demand and support a more circular, bio-based materials value chain.
The material is particularly targeted at “nasty” applications where recycling or reuse is unrealistic and leakage into the environment is likely: single-use packaging, coffee capsules, on-the-go food service items, coatings and adhesives, and other short-lived products that currently generate persistent microplastic pollution. Because the material is not a plastic at all but a functionalized natural polymer matrix, it breaks down into water, CO₂ and humus without leaving microplastics or toxic residues, offering a safer option for both ecosystems and human exposure.
In this interview from Web Summit Lisbon 2025, Lifa from the Traceless team explains how the company is scaling from pilot to industrial production, positioning its technology within tightening EU plastics regulation and growing demand for credible plastic alternatives. The discussion covers proof points from life cycle assessment, feedstock availability from industrial side streams and the company’s focus on global deployment, inviting packaging producers, converters and brands to rethink single-use designs around compostable natural polymers.
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