Econic Technologies

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.

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

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

• CO2 catalyst technology
• Sustainable polyols manufacturing
• Polycarbonate ether polyols
• Bio-based surfactants
• CO2 utilization chemistry

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. 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

Core 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

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, minor and core.

• Changhua ChemicalflagshipOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 23 March 2026Changhua 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 PetrochemicalsminorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 23 March 2026MOU for CO2 polyols technology in India.
• Sanyo ChemicalminorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 23 March 2026MOU for CO2 polyols technology in Japan.
• PTT Global ChemicalminorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 23 March 2026MOU for CO2 polyols technology in Thailand.
• ChimcomplexminorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 23 March 2026MOU for CO2 polyols technology in Romania.
• Monument ChemicalcoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 17 November 2025First 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 InformaticscoreTechnology or Integration · 12 September 2025Partnership to accelerate development of CO2-based materials using Citrine's AI Platform for machine-learning models and formulation optimization.
• Saudi Aramco Technologies Company (SATC)coreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 8 April 2025Strategic 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

Direct 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

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@EconicTechnologiesLtd
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/econic-technologies-limited
• Xx.com/econictech

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds13 records

Investors14 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Econic Technologies