Danimer Scientific, formerly known as Meredian Holdings Group Inc. and MHG, is a biopolymer manufacturer headquartered in Bainbridge, Georgia.

Danimer Scientific
Company typePublic
NYSEDNMR
IndustryBiotechnology and bioplastics
FoundedBainbridge, Georgia, US (2004 (2004))
Headquarters,
Key people
Stephen Croskrey(CEO)
Dr. Isao Noda (Board of Directors)
Mike Hajost (CFO)
Michael Smith (COO)
Phil Van Trump (CTO)
Scott Tuten (CMSO)
Websitewww.danimerscientific.com

Danimer Scientific owns the patent for Nodax medium-chain-length branched polyhydroxyalkanoates, mcl-PHA. The company uses PHA and other biopolymers to create a range of applications such as additives, aqueous coatings, extrusion coating, extrusion lamination, fibers, film resins, hot melt adhesives, injection molding, thermoforming and wax replacement polymers.[1] In addition, Danimer Scientific offers research and development in the formulation of biopolymers. Danimer Scientific also provides toll manufacturing and compounding services, allowing partners to use the Bainbridge facility to manufacture products.[2]

History

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Danimer Scientific

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Danimer Scientific was founded in 2004 to create biodegradable and sustainable solutions to the global dependency on traditional plastics, by using biopolymer materials such as polylactic acid (PLA). Danimer Scientific specializes in customizing biopolymer formulations.

The company received the Sustainability Award from the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA) in 2007 for the Ecotainer coffee cup, which used a plastic biopolymer derived from corn for the inner lining.[3]

In 2006, the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program awarded Danimer with a Phase 1 monetary grant of $80,000 for the "Creation of Cost Competitive Biodegradable Films from Renewable Resources for Agriculture". The following year the SBIR awarded the company with a Phase 2 monetary grant of $346,000 for the same title, stating that the project's objective was to use renewable materials to develop agricultural mulch films that could adequately degrade before the next growing season[4]

In 2010, Danimer Scientific received a contract for $846,828 from the organization, Research Partnership to Secure Energy for America (RPSEA) to develop an environmentally friendly fracturing treatment for hydrocarbon production, now known as SqueezeFrac.[5]

In September 2011, Danimer Scientific and minority business enterprise, Sijo Global Partners, formed a strategic affiliation where Sijo would offer Danimer’s bioplastic products to market leaders and brand owners.[6]

In January 2013, Danimer and Henkel formed a partnership to further develop bio-based hot melt adhesives for polyethylene terephthalate (PET) container packaging that are made with 50% renewable content or higher.[7]

Meredian Inc.

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Originally formed in 2004, Meredian Inc. manufactures PHA for Danimer Scientific.[8][9] Danimer Scientific's Nodax PHA is a specialized, medium-chain-length branched polyhydroxyalkanoate, mcl-PHA.

Danimer and Meredian originally purchased Procter & Gamble’s intellectual property on PHA technology in 2007.[9][10] In 2013, Dr. Isao Noda joined Danimer / Meredian Inc. after spending thirty years with Procter & Gamble.

In 2014, the company received a Food and Substance Contact Notification approval from the United States Food and Drug Association (FDA). The sole-verification guarantees that the biopolymers are safe to use for food contact and are classified as non-hazardous waste after disposal.[11]

In February 2014, Danimer Scientific and Meredian Inc. merged into MHG.[1][12] Stephen Croskrey was announced as chief executive officer of MHG in May 2016.[13] The company's name changed to Danimer Scientific was officially announced in October 2016.[14]

PHA Patents

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Danimer Scientific's PHA has received several certifications for biodegradability including: anaerobic and aerobic digestion in soil, freshwater, marine, industrial and home composting.[15][16][17][18] The patented version of Danimer Scientific's mcl-PHA is known as Nodax and is the primary product developed for commercial manufacturing.[19] Danimer Scientific's Nodax PHA is a class of bioplastics produced from bacterial microorganisms that store PHA polyesters for energy in their cell walls. These microbes feed upon plant-based oils procured from non-food sources.[10] Plant based oils are transferred to Danimer Scientific’s proprietary bio-reactors and fed to naturally regenerating, soil-borne bacteria who produce PHA through biosynthesis.[20][21] The reactive extrusion process mixes and compounds the bioplastic materials in a unique proprietary procedure that creates a customized biopolymer resin pellet.[10][22]

Affiliations

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Certifications

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References

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  1. ^ a b c Iamon, Carolyn (20 November 2013). "Meredian Inc. could merge". The Post Searchlight.
  2. ^ "Plastics" (PDF). Time Inc News Group.
  3. ^ "Blog: Coffee Cup Developed by Several Major Corporations Wins Sustainability Award". Sustainable is Good. Archived from the original on 21 July 2015. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
  4. ^ "SBIR source Firms". SBIR. Archived from the original on 22 July 2015. Retrieved 16 October 2014.
  5. ^ "RPSEA". DaniMer Scientific. Archived from the original on 27 October 2014. Retrieved 16 October 2014.
  6. ^ "SijoGP to distribute DaniMer bioplastic". Plastic News. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
  7. ^ De Guzman, Doris (17 January 2013). "Bio-based adhesives are hot!". Green Chemicals Blog. Retrieved 6 November 2014.
  8. ^ "Meredian, Inc. Announces Position As the Sole Recipient of FDA Approval for Food Substance Contact". Biopolymers Summit. Retrieved 6 November 2014.
  9. ^ a b Procter & Gamble. "Meredian Inc. Announces Acquisition of PHA Technology from Procter & Gamble". Archived from the original on 8 November 2014. Retrieved 16 October 2014.
  10. ^ a b c Laird, Karen (10 January 2014). "Green Matter: Invention driven innovation beats serendipity, says PHA expert". Plastics Today.
  11. ^ Jessica Lyons Hardcastle (August 24, 2015). "Bioplastic Firm MHG Fires Up First Commercial Scale Fermenter". Environmental Leader.
  12. ^ "Meredian Inc. and DaniMer Scientific Merge Under Meredian Holdings Group Inc". Yahoo Finance. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
  13. ^ "MHG Appoints New CEO of Company". Yahoo Finance. Archived from the original on 2016-05-05. Retrieved 2017-01-17.
  14. ^ "MHG rebrands as Danimer Scientific". Plastic News. 12 December 2016.
  15. ^ "Biodegradable Certification" (PDF). Vincotte Ok Compost. Vincotte.
  16. ^ "Biodegradable Certification" (PDF). Vincotte Ok Compost. Vincotte.
  17. ^ "Biodegradable Certification" (PDF). Vincotte Ok Compost. Vincotte.
  18. ^ "Biodegradable Certification" (PDF). Vincotte Ok Compost. Vincotte.
  19. ^ Laird, Karen (10 January 2014). "Green Matter: Invention driven innovation beats serendipity, says PHA expert". Retrieved 20 October 2014.
  20. ^ Toole, Terry. "Canola crops both beautiful and good for farmers and ecosystem". Miller Country Liberal. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
  21. ^ Williams, Betsy. "Georgia Canola Fields of Gold". Farm Flavor. Retrieved 6 November 2014.
  22. ^ "Green Matter: Invention driven innovation beats serendipity, says PHA expert". 10 January 2014.
  23. ^ a b Iamon, Carolyn (15 November 2014). "Pereira explains MHG progress". The Post Searchlight.
  24. ^ Welitzkin, Paul. "Investors eye US-made plastic alternative". China Daily USA. Retrieved 6 November 2014.
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