Solegear Bioplastics

Good Natured Products Inc. (TSX V:SGB), formerly Solegear, is a publicly traded bioplastics company founded in 2006 and based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Good Natured is an innovator in the field of next generation bioplastics made from annually renewable plant-based sources. Its technology is based on combining a bio-based polymer, such as polylactic acid (PLA), with non-toxic additives to increases various mechanical, processing and physical performance characteristics of the material.[1]

Good Natured Products Inc.
Public TSX.V:GDNP
IndustryBioplastics
Founded2006
FounderToby Reid
HeadquartersVancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Key people
Paul Antoniadis, CEO & Director

Gary Clifford, CFO
Michel Labonte, CTO

Noel Harvey, VP Business Development
ProductsPolysole Traverse
Websitegoodnatured.ca

Product development

Research and development

Good Natured began its research and development efforts in 2006, focusing on the development of bio-based, high-performance, compostable injection molded plastics. Polysole was developed using Green Chemistry with an initial focus on applications requiring greater performance from a strength, durability and processing standpoint. Later development produced technologies and materials for thermoforming and film applications, also with increased performance characteristics. Good Natured has consistently been developing its technologies in collaboration with leading Canadian research institutions.

NRC Industrial Materials Institute, Boucherville, Quebec

Good Natured signed a joint collaboration research agreement with NRC's Industrial Materials Institute in February 2012, and performs applied research with the Polymer Bioproducts team, which is led by Nathalie Legros.

École Polytechnique, Montréal, Quebec

Good Natured has been collaborating with École Polytechnique on bioplastics technology development since July 2010, working with the Chemical Engineering group under Dr. Charles Dubois.

University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia

Good Natured performs its R&D with the Chemical and Biological Engineering Department at the University of British Columbia.[2]

NRC-IRAP

Canada's National Research Council through its support institute, NRC-IRAP (Industrial Research Assistance Program), awards funding to Canadian businesses focused on developing proprietary and breakthrough technological innovations. Good Natured has been a consistent recipient of IRAP funding since 2007.[3]

Western Economic Diversification Canada

In July 2015, Good Natured was selected to receive funding from the Western Innovation (WINN) Initiative. WINN is a program offered by Western Economic Diversification Canada, a federal department in the government. Designed to spur innovation and economic development, WINN helps small and medium-sized technology businesses to commercialize their products, services and processes. WINN funding was allocated to 27 businesses across British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba this year.[4]

Partnerships

r-pac International Corporation

In 2014, r-pac and Good Natured completed an exclusive agreement for the production, sales and distribution of Good Natured's Polysole and Traverse thermoformed packaging.[5]

Thermoform Engineered Quality (TEQ), Huntley, Illinois

In December 2014, Good Natured signed a strategic agreement with US-based TEQ, in retail and medical packaging, to sell Good Natured's bioplastics.[6]

Ex-Tech Plastics, Richmond, Illinois

Good Natured and Ex-Tech Plastics, a US-based plastic extruder entered into commercial partnership in March 2015 to manufacture and distribute Good Natured's bioplastics in the North American market.[7]

Columbia Plastics, Surrey, British Columbia

In May 2015, Solegear Bioplastic Technologies Inc. solidified a partnership with Columbia Plastics Ltd, a custom injection molding company, to manufacture and distribute products made with Solegear's bioplastics.[8] In July 2015 they agreed to launch six sustainable bioplastic office products in a commercial agreement with TOPS Products Canada.[9]

References
  1. "Solegear Develops 100% Natural, Biodegradable Polymer". SAE International. 4 October 2010. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
  2. "Solegear Secures Research Partnerships With Top Canadian Universities". Solegear Bioplastics. 21 November 2011. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
  3. "Canadian bioplastics provider Solegear partnering with National Research Council". Canadian Plastics. 16 September 2012. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
  4. "Solegear Receives $1.6 Million in Innovation Funding from the Government of Canada". Solegear Bioplastics Inc. 25 July 2014. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
  5. "r-pac and Solegear Complete Agreement to Accelerate Commercialization of New Sustainable Packaging Material". Market Wired. 28 May 2014. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
  6. "Solegear and TEQ Sign Agreement to Increase Use of Sustainable Packaging Material". Reuters. 16 December 2014. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
  7. "Solegear and Ex-Tech sign letter of intent for new joint venture". New Materials News. 22 June 2015. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
  8. "Solegear and Columbia Plastics Collaborate to Bring Proprietary Polysole(R) Plant-Based Plastics to the North American Marketplace". Market Wired. 7 May 2015. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
  9. "Solegear and Columbia Plastics team up for bioplastic office products". Canadian Plastics. 10 June 2015. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
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