Whale Science faces a persistent gap in the alternative plastics space: despite the growing range of options available today, few solutions match the flexibility and performance of conventional plastics, and PLA — currently the most widely used alternative — often suffers from very low impact strength, which limits its applications. To fill this gap, the company is developing high-performance materials with bio-based materials, designed for use on an industrial scale and built around pillars of circularity.
©Balena Science
©Balena Science
©Balena Science
©Balena Science
©Balena Science
©Balena Science
©Balena Science
BioCir®: a new family of biological materials
Recently, the startup actually developed BioCir®, a family of bio-based materials that come in different forms and are designed to biodegrade in soil under controlled conditions. Made from renewable raw materials such as castor oils, natural oils and polysaccharides, BioCir® grades contain up to 50-100% bio-based content while providing performance comparable to conventional plastics, with safer formulations and a controlled, verifiable end-of-life pathway.
Designed for real performance, this family materials includes BioCir® Flex, BioCir® Flex3D, BioCir® X and BioCir® Foam. Compatible with manufacturing technologies such as injection molding, 3D printing and extrusion, these compounds support a wide range of applications – from lifestyle products and accessories to footwear and furniture – enabling scalable adoption across different product categories.
Some examples include the one-of-a-kind flexible high-performance frisbee made with BioCir® X, engineered for durability from bacterially fermented bioplastic and designed to break down in compost, soil and marine environments without leaving a trace.
Flexibility for designers: customized solutions and supply
While some projects can be realized through close collaboration with Balena Science’s materials team, designers also have the flexibility to independently source BioCir® materials and process them through their own manufacturing partners.
In addition to providing material support throughout development, custom solutions are also available, including custom colors based on specific project requirements. Colors are achieved using base lots and pigments that are compatible with the chosen manufacturing technology.
A controlled end of life: from the product back to the soil
To ensure proper end-of-life treatment, the company has implemented a recovery program and works with a global network of industrial composting facilities. There, BioCir® products can safely break down and return to the soil: first, microorganisms, heat, oxygen and moisture reduce the material to smaller fragments, then they decompose into carbon dioxide, water and natural minerals that support the growth of new plants.
