Econic Technologies
Econic Technologies is a UK-based deep tech company founded in 2011 that licenses proprietary catalyst technology to global polyols and surfactants manufacturers, enabling them to replace fossil-based feedstocks with captured CO2 and produce CO2-based polyols and surfactants under brands such as Carnol, Poly-CO2, and Recreaire.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Econic Technologies does
Econic Technologies Ltd is a UK-based deep tech company founded in 2011 that develops proprietary catalyst and process technology for converting captured CO2 into high-performance polymers. Its core technology uses a patented catalyst system, protected by more than 70 granted patents and co-invented by Dr. Michael Kember, that incorporates CO2 into polyether and polycarbonate ether chemistries at standard production temperatures and pressures, making it energy-efficient and cost-competitive with incumbent petrochemical routes.
The company operates two principal product platforms: CO2-based polyols (polycarbonate ether or PCE polyols marketed under the Carnol and Poly-CO2 sub-brands) for polyurethane applications including foams, coatings, adhesives, sealants, elastomers, automotive, construction, and apparel; and Recreaire carbonate ethoxylate surfactants, launched June 2025, for cleaning, personal care, agrochemical, and metalworking applications. Manufacturing partners include Changhua Chemical in China (Carnol brand, ~80,000 tonnes capacity in 2026, scaling to 1M+ tonnes), Monument Chemical in the US (Poly-CO2 brand, Brandenburg, KY), and Saudi Aramco Technologies Company (Converge range) under a global license. Additional MOUs extend into India, Japan, Thailand, and Romania.
Econic operates a pure B2B technology-licensing business model, earning royalties from manufacturers that deploy its catalyst and process technology rather than producing finished goods itself. The company is headquartered at Alderley Park, Macclesfield, UK, with a pilot facility in Runcorn and a wholly-owned regional entity in Shanghai established in November 2025. It employs approximately 30 staff and is backed by venture investors including Taranis Carbon Ventures, Capricorn Partners, CM Venture Capital, ING Sustainable Investments, and GC Ventures.
Econic Technologies firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Econic Technologies
- Legal name
- Econic Technologies Ltd
- Website
- https://econic-technologies.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2011
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Econic Technologies is a UK-based deep tech company founded in 2011 that licenses proprietary catalyst technology to global polyols and surfactants manufacturers, enabling them to replace fossil-based feedstocks with captured CO2 and produce CO2-based polyols and surfactants under brands such as Carnol, Poly-CO2, and Recreaire.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Econic Technologies industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Specialty Chemicals Technology Licensing
- NAICS
- Petrochemical Manufacturing (32511), All Other Basic Organic Chemical Manufacturing (325199), Resin, Synthetic Rubber, and Artificial and Synthetic Fibers and Filaments Manufacturing (3252)
- SIC
- Industrial Organic Chemicals (2860), Plastic Materials, Synth Resins & Nonvulcan Elastomers (2821)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Petrochemical & Polymerization Catalysts (IMAEAIAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Bio-based & Biodegradable Polymer Resin Manufacturing (PLA, PHA, PBS, starch blends) (IMANAAAG), Bio-based Solvents & Process Chemicals (e.g., bio-acetone, bio-butanol, bio-IPA, green solvents) (EUAAAIAB)
Keywords
Where Econic Technologies is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
Econic Technologies business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Technology Licensing: Econic licenses its proprietary catalyst and process technology to polyols and surfactants manufacturers globally. Licensees use the technology to produce CO2-based polymers and pay royalties to Econic.
- Technology Licensing (Saudi Aramco): Strategic global license agreement with Saudi Aramco Technologies Company (SATC) for CO2 polymer technologies, expanding the company's technology portfolio and licensing revenue streams.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
Econic Technologies product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Econic Technologies develops and licenses proprietary catalyst and process technology that enables chemical manufacturers to incorporate captured CO2 into polyols and surfactants. The company offers two core technology platforms — CO2-based polyether and polycarbonate ether (PCE) polyols for polyurethane applications, and Recreaire carbonate ethoxylate surfactants for cleaning, personal care, and industrial use — which licensees deploy at commercial scale to produce renewable-carbon materials replacing fossil-based feedstocks.
Product overview
Econic Technologies is a licensing platform for renewable carbon technology with two core product lines: Polyols (CO₂-based polyols) and Surfactants (Recreaire®). The company licenses its patented catalyst and process technology to polyols and surfactants manufacturers globally, enabling them to replace fossil-based feedstocks with captured CO₂. Polyols technology produces polycarbonate ether (PCE) polyols for polyurethane applications in furniture, mattresses, automotive, construction, coatings, and apparel. Surfactants technology (Recreaire®) delivers carbonate ethoxylate surfactants for cleaning, personal care, and industrial applications. Manufacturing partners include Changhua Chemical (China - producing Carnol™ brand), Monument Chemical (US - producing Poly-CO₂® brand), and Saudi Aramco Technologies Company. The company also holds licensing agreements with partners in India, Japan, Thailand, Romania, and Saudi Arabia.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Recreaire: Sustainable CO2-based surfactants platform technology that replaces fossil-based and oleo-based carbon in surfactant production. Recreaire carbonate ethoxylates can deliver up to 65% reduction in global warming potential compared to conventional fatty alcohol ethoxylates.
- Carnol
- Poly-CO₂
Products and services
- CO2-based Polyols Technology Patented catalyst and process technology that transforms captured CO2 into polyether and polycarbonate ether (PCE) polyols for polyurethane applications. Reduces carbon footprint by up to 30% while improving foam processing, coating durability, and flame retardancy. Licensed to chemical manufacturers.
- Recreaire Carbonate Ethoxylates Surfactants Family of carbonate ethoxylate surfactants made from CO2 as a raw material, replacing oleochemicals and fossil-based materials. Includes fatty alcohol ethoxylate (FAE) alternatives with up to 45% CO2 by weight, biodegradable, colorless, odorless, with no detectable 1,4-dioxane. Licensed to surfactant manufacturers for cleaning, personal care, coatings, agrochemical, and metalworking applications.
- PCE Polyols for Polyurethane Dispersions (PUDs) Polycarbonate ether (PCE) polyols specifically formulated for waterborne polyurethane dispersions used in paints and coatings. Provides strong substrate adhesion, durability, UV and water resistance, and can be used alone or combined with recycled or bio-based polyols. Carbon footprint up to 30% lower than standard polyols.
Quantifiable outcome
- 30% carbon footprint reduction in polyols
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Econic Technologies
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Econic Technologies technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Econic Technologies partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, minor and core.
- Changhua ChemicalflagshipChanghua Chemical is the world's first to open commercial-scale production of CO2-based polycarbonate ether polyols in Lianyungang, China. Products branded as Carnol with approximately 80,000 tonnes capacity in 2026, scaling to over one million tonnes.
- Manali PetrochemicalsminorMOU for CO2 polyols technology in India.
- Sanyo ChemicalminorMOU for CO2 polyols technology in Japan.
- PTT Global ChemicalminorMOU for CO2 polyols technology in Thailand.
- ChimcomplexminorMOU for CO2 polyols technology in Romania.
- Monument ChemicalcoreFirst US-based manufacturer producing CO2 polyols (Poly-CO2 brand) at Brandenburg, KY facility using Econic's technology. Products for furniture, mattresses, automotive, coatings, adhesives, sealants, and elastomers.
- Citrine InformaticscorePartnership to accelerate development of CO2-based materials using Citrine's AI Platform for machine-learning models and formulation optimization.
- Saudi Aramco Technologies Company (SATC)coreStrategic global license agreement for SATC's CO2 polymer technologies (Converge brand). Expands Econic's technology portfolio for CASE and other market segments.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights8 records
Econic Technologies competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Covestro: Covestro commercialises cardyon® CO2-based polyether polycarbonate polyols produced with partner companies, directly competing with Econic's PCE polyols in polyurethane applications across furniture, automotive and CASE.
- Asahi Kasei: Asahi Kasei produces CO2-based polycarbonate diols (Duranol®) for polyurethane applications, making it a direct technology competitor to Econic in CO2-derived polymers for CASE, adhesives and elastomer end-markets.
Broad incumbents
- BASF: BASF is the world's largest chemical company with a broad CO2-utilisation portfolio including CO2-based polyols (Cardyon® in partnership with Covestro), applying deep R&D, integrated scale and incumbent customer relationships that overlap Econic's licensing wedge.
Emerging players
- LanzaTech: LanzaTech uses gas-fermentation to convert CO and CO2 into ethanol and chemical building blocks via licensing partnerships with major energy and petrochemical players (including Indian Oil, ArcelorMittal), adjacent to Econic's CO2-to-chemicals platform.
- Avantium: Avantium develops bio-based chemicals (FDCA, PEF) and operates a similar licensing-and-partnership business model, providing a comparable commercialisation template to Econic's catalyst licensing approach in sustainable polymers.
- Newlight Technologies: Newlight produces AirCarbon®, a bioplastic made by microorganisms from captured CO2 and methane, overlapping Econic's CO2-derived polymers thesis though targeting different end-markets (disposable plastics, packaging).
Others
- Saudi Aramco Technologies Company: SATC is a licensee of Econic's technology (Converge® CO2 polyols) and a strategic investor relationship; included as an ecosystem counterparty given its parallel CO2 polymer R&D and global polyol reach.
Regional players
- Cathay Industrial Biotech: Cathay is a leading China-based producer of bio-based polyamides (long-chain diacids, bio-PA56) using fermentation, comparable to Econic in deploying bio-based/renewable-carbon chemistry at industrial scale in the same regional customer base.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Econic Technologies social profiles
Digital presenceEconic Technologies financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Econic Technologies leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles14 records
Econic Technologies subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Econic Technologies funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds13 records
Investors14 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Econic Technologies M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Econic Technologies
What does Econic Technologies do?
Econic Technologies develops and licenses proprietary catalyst and process technology that enables chemical manufacturers to incorporate captured CO2 into polyols and surfactants. The company offers two core technology platforms — CO2-based polyether and polycarbonate ether (PCE) polyols for polyurethane applications, and Recreaire carbonate ethoxylate surfactants for cleaning, personal care, and industrial use — which licensees deploy at commercial scale to produce renewable-carbon materials replacing fossil-based feedstocks.
Is Econic Technologies a public or private company?
Econic Technologies is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Econic Technologies founded?
Econic Technologies was founded in 2011. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Econic Technologies based?
Econic Technologies is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Econic Technologies make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Technology Licensing is the primary driver. The others are technology Licensing (Saudi Aramco).
Who are Econic Technologies's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Covestro and Asahi Kasei. BASF is listed as a broad incumbent. Emerging players are LanzaTech, Avantium and Newlight Technologies. Saudi Aramco Technologies Company is listed as an others. Cathay Industrial Biotech is listed as a regional player.
Does Econic Technologies have an API?
No public API is recorded for Econic Technologies.
What industry is Econic Technologies in?
Econic Technologies's product category is Specialty Chemicals Technology Licensing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAEAIAB, Petrochemical & Polymerization Catalysts, with a secondary code of IMANAAAG, Bio-based & Biodegradable Polymer Resin Manufacturing (PLA, PHA, PBS, starch blends). Its NAICS code is 32511 and its SIC code is 2860.