#TheSecretIngredient: Atacama Biomaterials, the Chilean startup aiming to end plastic use in the packaging industry
The history of Atacama Biomaterials dates back to 2019, when its founders, two Chileans, Paloma González and José Tomás Domínguez, met during their studies at MIT (Boston, United States) and identified a gap in the packaging industry.
The world is looking to reduce the use of plastic, but alternatives like paper present limitations. We aim to close this gap with a material that offers the functionality of plastic and is recyclable.
José Tomás Domínguez, CTO & Co-founder Atacama Biomaterials
The proposal of the startup has been validated in laboratories and in the market. Companies like Roche and food brands have adopted their solution, highlighting its resilience and alignment with regulations and consumer trends.
"Consumers are becoming increasingly informed and are seeking sustainable solutions. Our material allows companies to reduce recycling costs and regulatory compliance," adds the entrepreneur.
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From Development to Production.
One of the milestones in the evolution of Atacama Biomaterials has been the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to optimize materials, and to speed up their research and innovation processes, which started like in fairy tales, stories and movies: behind a microscope in a lab.
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"The materials industry can take decades to develop a new solution. We did it in months thanks to AI," details Domínguez.
AI has allowed for the adjustment of its material properties, reaching levels of resistance comparable to those of plastic. But the challenge is to scale up production. Currently, Atacama Biomaterials is working on converting paper machinery to produce Woodpack on a large scale.
"Today we produce between 10 to 100 kilos daily, but we need to reach 900 tons to meet demand," admits Dominguez; figures with which they could already be considered a player, a small -but relevant- player in the industry.
"This approach involves a technical and strategic challenge. "The packaging industry requires massive volumes to justify the adoption of a new material. Our job is to show them that our solution is viable"," emphasizes the co-founder.
Challenges and Growth, 2025 and Beyond.
As Atacama Biomaterials progresses in its scaling plan, it faces common challenges in deeptech startups: consolidating teams, strengthening partnerships with customers, and attracting investors.
Domínguez reveals that they are in the process of closing a financing round in 2025. "More than capital, we are looking for investors who can help us grow and make an impact", he asserts.
The startup has gone through accelerators at MIT and Harvard, which has reinforced its global approach. However, Chile remains key to its strategy. "Chilean companies are quick to adopt new technologies, which has allowed us to validate our product. We want the country to be a reference in sustainable packaging", Dominguez highlights.
Domínguez projects Atacama Biomaterials as a player in the transition towards a circular economy. "Our goal is that, in three years, anyone can buy a product packaged in Woodpack without knowing that they are using our material. That will be our impact," he concludes.
This conversation is part of the interview series of #TheSecretIngredient, co-developed by Entreprenerd Media and Transforma Alimentos, with the aim of highlighting innovators in the food industry from Chile to the world.
