What Silvis Materials does

Silvis Materials is a Boulder, Colorado-based materials science company founded in 2020 that develops and sells 100% bio-based, cellulose-derived binders designed as drop-in replacements for petroleum- and formaldehyde-based adhesives used in composite wood panels, insulation, and packaging. The core technology is a patent-pending green-chemistry binder produced from sustainable cellulose feedstocks (biomass, pine, eucalyptus) that the company claims can decarbonize building products by up to 80% and packaging by up to 40%, while enabling composting, biodegradability, and recycling of end-of-life materials that are currently landfilled.

The company targets two primary customer segments: building materials manufacturers seeking formaldehyde-free adhesives to address tightening EPA regulations and green-building certifications, and packaging manufacturers seeking compostable and biodegradable adhesive solutions. Its go-to-market is a co-development enterprise motion in which Silvis partners directly with Fortune 500 manufacturers, conducts pilot programs, and progresses toward multi-year industrial supply contracts. Customer discovery has been validated through the NSF I-Corps program with over 100 interviews and multiple F500 engagements.

Silvis is pre-commercial, with revenue not publicly disclosed and pilots actively scaling toward 2026. The company has been funded primarily through non-dilutive sources—approximately $2.4 million disclosed across NSF SBIR Phase I and Phase II grants, Colorado OEDIT and LaunchTN state funding, accelerator investments from Techstars and Cox Cleantech, and angel checks—and operates with a small team (1-10 employees) anchored by CEO and co-founder Patty Ferreira and CTO and co-founder Dr. Dhrubo Laskar, with advisors including ORNL's Dr. Sheng Dai and former SendGrid CEO Jim Franklin. Strategic R&D is conducted through a DOE-sponsored research agreement with Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

Name

Silvis Materials

Legal name

Silvis Materials

Website

https://silvismaterials.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Silvis Materials is a Boulder, Colorado-based materials science company that develops 100% bio-based, cellulose-derived binders as drop-in replacements for formaldehyde-based adhesives, serving building materials and packaging manufacturers pursuing sustainable, compostable industrial products.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Adhesives & Binders

NAICS

Adhesive Manufacturing (32552)

SIC

Plastic Material, Synth Resin/Rubber, Cellulos (No Glass) (2820)

akta.pro primary industry

Cellulose-Based Biodegradable Materials (cellulose films, fibers, derivatives) (IMAEAOAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Bio-based Materials & Fibers (e.g., cellulose derivatives, lignin-based materials, nanocellulose) (EUAAAIAD)

Keywords

• Bio-based adhesives
• Cellulose binders
• Industrial adhesives
• Sustainable packaging materials
• Green building materials

Headquarters

HQ city

Boulder

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Bio-Based Binder Product Sales: Silvis Materials generates revenue through the sale of their proprietary bio-based binder products to manufacturers in the building materials and packaging industries. As a materials manufacturer, the company sells its binder formulations directly to industrial customers for integration into their manufacturing processes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Silvis Materials manufactures and sells a proprietary, 100% bio-based cellulose-derived binder designed as a drop-in replacement for formaldehyde-based adhesives. The product is sold to industrial manufacturers in the building products and packaging sectors, integrating into existing manufacturing processes to enable compostable, biodegradable, and recyclable end products.

Product overview

Silvis Materials offers a single unified product line centered on their patent-pending Silvis Binders — 100% bio-based adhesive solutions derived from cellulose. These binders function as direct replacements for traditional petroleum-based adhesives in composite wood panels, insulation materials, and other industrial applications. The company positions their product as a sustainable materials science solution rather than a software platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Silvis Binders 100% bio-based adhesive binder made from sustainably sourced cellulose (biomass and tree sources such as pine and eucalyptus), serving as a patent-pending sustainable drop-in replacement for petroleum-based and formaldehyde-based adhesives. Designed for use by industrial manufacturers of composite wood panels, insulation materials, and construction panels, as well as packaging manufacturers. Produced through a green manufacturing process and integrates into existing manufacturing equipment without process redesign. Enables compostable, biodegradable, and recyclable end products and can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80% in building products and up to 40% in packaging.

Quantifiable outcome

• Enables production of compostable and biodegradable materials
• +1 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Oak Ridge National LaboratorycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSilvis Materials collaborates with Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) through a DOE-sponsored research agreement for collaborative R&D on bio-based materials technology. ORNL advisor Dr. Sheng Dai is involved in the partnership, bringing materials science expertise to advance the company's proprietary binder technology.
• NSF I-Corps ProgramcoreOthersSilvis Materials participated in the NSF I-Corps program, conducting over 100 customer discovery interviews with Fortune 500 companies to validate market needs and refine their go-to-market strategy for bio-based adhesive technology.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Bostik (Arkema): Bostik is Arkema's specialty adhesives business serving industrial, construction, and packaging markets globally. It is a broad incumbent with overlapping customers in the building products and packaging segments Silvis targets.
• BASF: BASF is one of the largest diversified chemical companies globally with an extensive adhesives, resins, and binders portfolio. Its broad portfolio spans the same building products and packaging end markets Silvis targets, making it a critical incumbent to track.
• Hexion: Hexion is a major global supplier of adhesive resins and binders for forest products, construction, and composites. Its formaldehyde-based resins are directly in the displacement crosshairs of Silvis's bio-based binder technology.
• Dow Chemical: Dow is a diversified chemical major with a significant industrial adhesives and binders portfolio serving packaging, construction, and consumer products. Its scale and incumbency in formaldehyde-based chemistries make it the dominant incumbent Silvis must displace or partner with over time.
• H.B. Fuller: H.B. Fuller is one of the world's largest industrial adhesives manufacturers, serving packaging, construction, and hygiene end markets. It represents the entrenched incumbent competitor that Silvis's bio-based binders aim to displace at the formulation level.
• Covestro: Covestro is a major polymer and specialty materials company with bio-based and sustainable adhesive offerings in development. Its R&D scale and incumbency position it as a broad incumbent that could enter Silvis's bio-based cellulose binder niche.
• Henkel: Henkel's Adhesive Technologies division is a global leader in industrial adhesives across packaging, construction, and consumer goods. It is a primary incumbent Silvis must compete against for share of Fortune 500 customer wallet in building products and packaging.

Direct peers

• Jowat: Jowat is a German specialty adhesives manufacturer focused on industrial applications including packaging, wood, and construction. It is a direct competitor in industrial adhesive formulation with overlapping customer profiles to Silvis's target segments.
• EcoSynthetix: EcoSynthetix develops bio-based binders and adhesives from renewable resources for paper, packaging, and wood products. It is the closest direct peer to Silvis in terms of bio-based drop-in binder chemistry and target industrial applications.

Emerging players

• Solenis: Solenis is a specialty chemicals company producing sustainable binders and additives for paper, packaging, and wood products. It overlaps with Silvis in cellulose-based chemistry and target industrial customers, representing an emerging adjacent competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds9 records

Investors5 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 Silvis Materials