The construction of a demonstration plant is a decisive milestone for the bioeconomy start-up traceless materials on the way to the market launch of its innovative biomaterial. Last year, the team led by the two founders Johanna Baare and Anne Lamp received 36.6 million euros from investors and a further 5 million euros in funding from the Federal Ministry for the Environment. The search for a location for the first production facility is now over: The start-up will set up shop in the traditional building of the former Wedemann bakery in Hamburg-Harburg and build a demonstration plant.

Demonstration plant - first step towards industrialization

"After we were able to announce the financing last September, we can now finally start construction. The demo plant is the first step towards industrializing our technology. Here we want to show that we can actually produce our material on a large scale and competitively. This step is essential for our goal of making a real difference in solving plastic pollution," says Johanna Baare.

Managing Director Anne Lamp describes the location as a "real stroke of luck". "We are delighted that the previous owner, Franziska Wedemann, agreed to sell the building to a young company like us. As pioneers, we want to provide fresh impetus for a green, bio-based industry here locally and hope to attract many more companies."

Biomaterial production set to start in 2025

Where bread and rolls were baked for four decades until 2022, the Hamburg-based start-up says it wants to produce several thousand tons of traceless granulate every year from 2025. The first customers have already been found. The traceless team uses natural polymers made from plant-based residues from industrial grain processing to produce the biomaterial. The new plastic alternative is available in the form of granules that can be processed using standard technologies in the plastics and packaging industry. In addition, the biomaterial is completely compostable and can therefore be disposed of in organic waste.

"With traceless, a new, great and forward-looking company will write its own history at this location. I am delighted about this and wish the two founders and their team every success," says the former partner of bakehouse Wedemann, Franziska Wedemann, who is also Chairwoman of the Business Association for the South of Hamburg (Wirtschaftsverein für den Hamburger Süden e.V.).

40 new employees

The technology developed by traceless to produce the innovative biomaterial is now patent-pending and has already won several awards - most recently the German Start-up Award. Parallel to the conversion of the approximately 4,000 square meter building into a production facility, traceless plans to create 40 new jobs.

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