TripleW

TripleW is a climate-tech firm addressing food waste by converting it into high-value lactic acid, a key component for producing biodegradable plastics (PLA) and other bio-based materials. The company was founded in 2016 by childhood friends Tal Shapira (CEO) and Amir Oranim (COO). Shapira, with a background in chemistry, biology, and biotechnology from the Weizmann Institute, conceived the core idea, while Oranim leveraged his experience in law and finance from roles at EY to validate the business model.

The company's business model centers on integrating its proprietary technology into existing waste management facilities. This approach creates new revenue streams for waste management partners by upcycling organic waste that would otherwise go to landfills or lower-value processes like biogas production. TripleW processes commercial and industrial food waste from sources such as supermarkets, restaurants, and food processing plants. The waste is ground into a slurry and fermented by microorganisms that produce lactic acid. This acid, marketed as Circulac®, is then purified and sold for use in a variety of industries, including home care, personal care, and as a building block for PLA bioplastics. The process is designed to be circular; remaining byproducts can be used for renewable biogas production, and the company has developed a method to chemically recycle PLA bioplastic back into its process.

TripleW operates an R&D center in Israel and an industrial demonstration facility in the Port of Antwerp, Belgium, capable of processing 15 tons of food waste daily. The company is planning full-scale commercial facilities with a much larger capacity. To date, TripleW has raised a total of $52 million through a combination of equity financing and grants. This includes a $16.5 million Series B round and significant grants from organizations like the EU's Horizon 2020 program and the BIRD Foundation, which funded a successful collaboration with U.S.-based Corumat to create the world's first bioplastic packaging from mixed food waste. Keywords: food waste upcycling, lactic acid production, PLA bioplastic, circular economy, waste-to-value, sustainable materials, biochemicals, food waste fermentation, climate tech, industrial bioprocess, waste management solutions, renewable carbon, bio-based materials, sustainable packaging, Circulac, Tal Shapira, Amir Oranim, bioplastics from waste, organic waste valorization, green chemistry