Outlander Materials: ditching our plastic addiction
Breaking a bad habit
Single-use plastic has long been considered the circular economy’s worst enemy. Over 120 countries have understood the health and environmental risks associated with its production, having imposed bans or heavy restrictions on lightweight plastic bags or straws. While these regulations are essential, they are far from enough when we know that plastic production amounts to 380 million tons every year, 40% of which is destined to serve as packaging. So let’s face it, we are addicted. Outlander Materials aims to break this bad habit, replacing plastic packaging with Unplastic, a fully compostable material, made circular through the use of beer production waste.
Breaking a bad habit
Single-use plastic has long been considered the circular economy’s worst enemy. Over 120 countries have understood the health and environmental risks associated with its production, having imposed bans or heavy restrictions on lightweight plastic bags or straws. While these regulations are essential, they are far from enough when we know that plastic production amounts to 380 million tons every year, 40% of which is destined to serve as packaging. So let’s face it, we are addicted. Outlander Materials aims to break this bad habit, replacing plastic packaging with Unplastic, a fully compostable material, made circular through the use of beer production waste.
Breaking a bad habit
Single-use plastic has long been considered the circular economy’s worst enemy. Over 120 countries have understood the health and environmental risks associated with its production, having imposed bans or heavy restrictions on lightweight plastic bags or straws. While these regulations are essential, they are far from enough when we know that plastic production amounts to 380 million tons every year, 40% of which is destined to serve as packaging . So let’s face it, we are addicted. Outlander materials aims to break this bad habit, replacing plastic packaging with Unplastic, a fully compostable material, made circular through the use of beer production waste.
How it all started.
At the crossroad of green biology and beer brewing
Before founding Outlander materials, Lori Goff already had extensive experience with circular systems, using her biotechnology degree to help circular businesses with their scientific process. The idea behind Outlander materials and Unplastic came after Lori decided to brew her own beer in her kitchen. While finding it incredibly fun, she also realized how much waste was produced in the beer brewing process. Her observations were confirmed after talking to brewers, who showed her the many steps where organic and water waste occur. Seeing great value in this production waste, Lori started working on a plastic alternative turning brewery waste into a biodegradable packaging solution. After a very successful production phase and the development of a team of sustainable experts, Outlander materials is now working on designs and looking for partners in the consumer product and packaging industry to turn their innovation into a scalable operation.
“Outlander is on a relentless quest to explore what we can do differently to create sustainable, circular, materials to replace traditional plastics”
Lori Goff, Founder of Outlander Materials
Circular Value Proposition.
Ticking all the checkboxes of packaging
The Unplastic material has many advantages, not only over traditional plastic but also over other compostable materials. It is extremely lightweight and has a remarkable shelf life, making it a perfect packaging solution for food products. Contrary to plastic and especially microplastics which have a considerable detrimental impact on our health, Unplastic is also free of toxins, allergens, or animal products. Aside from these important points of difference, Outlander materials’ innovation is completely odorless, a common issue with other organic products. Circular nerds will also love the use of production waste, while beer enthusiasts will find in Unplastic a way to love their favorite beverage even more.
Unplastic could be utilized for virtually every product that is commonly wrapped in single-use plastic.
The Unplastic material has many advantages, not only over traditional plastic but also over other compostable materials. It is extremely lightweight and has a remarkable shelf life, making it a perfect packaging solution for food products. Contrary to plastic and especially microplastics which have a considerable detrimental impact on our health, Unplastic is also free of toxins, allergens, or animal products. Aside from these important points of difference, Outlander materials’ innovation is completely odorless, a common issue with other organic products. Circular nerds will also love the use of production waste, while beer enthusiasts will find in Unplastic a way to love their favorite beverage even more.
Unplastic could be utilized for virtually every product that is commonly wrapped in single-use plastic.
Unplastic could be utilized for virtually every product that is commonly wrapped in single-use plastic.
Relying on the circular network.
Vet and Lazy Brouwerij supplies Outlander with their wastewater as part of their own circular mission.
Finding their partners in crime
One thing circular actors cannot stress enough is the importance of finding the right partners. Outlander Materials wanted the people they worked with to share similar values and sustainable goals. In this way, they decided to work in Blue City, a circular hub in Rotterdam where entrepreneurs and researchers bring circular projects to life. Within Blue City, Lori Goff and her team were able to use the resources of the Blue City lab to develop and improve their material. Blue City is also where they met the team of Vet & Lazy Brouwerij, a circular brewery that redistributes their brewing waste as cattle feed to farms and as raw material to Outlander materials. Aside from making amazing beers.
Vet and Lazy Brouwerij supplies Outlander with their wastewater as part of their own circular mission.
Vet and Lazy Brouwerij supplies Outlander with their wastewater as part of their own circular mission.
Our Insights.
Showcasing purpose and expertise
It was clear from the first time we met Lori Goff that she had great ambitions for her business and wanted to share her passion for circularity around her. Circular Stories helped her do so, as part of the Dutch Postcode Lottery sustainability competition, we provided Outlander materials with storytelling and communication workshops as well as feedback on business rationale. The goal was to guide them through the process of a brand video production showcasing Outlander Materials’ purpose, product, and circular ambitions. These workshops and the video helped them present a compelling case for their business model to the Postcode Loterij panel and the potential partners they are currently reaching out to.
Leading the fight against all plastics
There is no debate as to what drives Lori Goff and her team to work everyday. Outlander materials is and will always be a purpose-driven company. Their current objectives might be to find partners in the packaging and consumer product industries and scale-up, but their mission is to reduce our impact on the environment. They lead a policy of “realistic optimism” where they turn crazy ideas into foolproof concepts, using circular and scientific tools to end all plastic production.
Meet the Circular Stories Team!
Do you want to position yourself as a frontrunner of circular business? Circular Stories can help you build your communication strategy in record time!
Whether you want to reach out to investors or new customers, our Video Brand Story program will help you stay in the mind of your audience!
Learn more about what video branding can do for your business right here:
Do you want to position yourself as a frontrunner of circular business? Circular Stories can help you build your communication strategy in record time!
Whether you want to reach out to investors or new customers, our Video Brand Story program will help you stay in the mind of your audience!
Learn more about what video branding can do for your business right here:
Do you want to position yourself as a frontrunner of circular business? Circular Stories can help you build your communication strategy in record time!
Whether you want to reach out to investors or new customers, our Video Brand Story program will help you stay in the mind of your audience!
Learn more about what video branding can do for your business right here:
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