Polybion
Polybion manufactures Celium™, a cultivated bacterial cellulose material grown from agro-industrial fruit waste, selling it as a leather alternative to fashion brands, accessories makers, interior designers, automotive manufacturers, and consumer product companies globally.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersIrapuato, Mexico
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Polybion does
Polybion sells Celium™ to fashion brands (flagship partner GANNI), accessories makers (Secrid, Veshin Factory), interior designers, automotive manufacturers, and consumer product companies via direct B2B engagement, quote-based pricing with sheet minimum order quantities (2 sheets for prototyping, 63 for custom), and distribution partnerships including ADORNO Design and the Vibe Lab Studio consumer program. Revenue is generated through material sales and custom co-development engagements, with REACH, EPA, and ZDHC compliance enabling EU and US market access. The company is privately held, led by its founders and supported by Blue Horizon (Series A lead, 2022) and Fashion for Good (partner-investor, October 2023), and has earned recognition including the Mass Challenge Latin America first place (2020), Fashion for Good Innovation Programme selection (2023), and the What Design Can Do Redesign Everything Challenge materials category win (2024).
Polybion firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Polybion
- Legal name
- Polybion S,L
- Website
- https://polybion.bio
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Polybion manufactures Celium™, a cultivated bacterial cellulose material grown from agro-industrial fruit waste, selling it as a leather alternative to fashion brands, accessories makers, interior designers, automotive manufacturers, and consumer product companies globally.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Polybion industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Cultivated Biomaterials
- NAICS
- Plastics Material and Resin Manufacturing (325211), Textile and Fabric Finishing and Fabric Coating Mills (3133)
- 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 industries
- Biodegradable Packaging Materials (films, trays, foams) (IMAEAOAB), Bio-based Polymers & Resins (PLA, PHA, bio-PE, bio-PET, cellulose acetate) (IMAMALAC)
Keywords
Where Polybion is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Irapuato
- HQ country
- Mexico
- HQ region
- Latin America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Polybion business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Operations, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Celium™ Material Sales: Polybion generates revenue through the sale of Celium™ bacterial cellulose material to fashion brands, automotive manufacturers, interior designers, and consumer product companies. The material is sold in sheet form with minimum order quantities, enabling customization for various applications.
- Custom Material Development: Co-development partnerships with brands like GANNI for custom material development, potentially including research and development fees or exclusive supply arrangements.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Standard Celium™ Sheets |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Custom Celium™ Orders |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Polybion product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Polybion manufactures Celium™, a cultivated bacterial cellulose material grown by feeding proprietary Terra bacterial strains with agro-industrial fruit waste through industrial fermentation. The material is produced as sheets that are then stabilized and tanned, serving as a biobased, premium alternative to animal leather and petroleum-derived synthetics for fashion, footwear, accessories, automotive interiors, lighting, and consumer product applications.
Product overview
Polybion is a next-generation biomaterials company that develops and manufactures revolutionary materials grown from living organisms. The core product is Celium™ Premium Cultivated Cellulose, a bacterial cellulose material cultivated from agro-industrial fruit waste. Celium™ is produced through industrial-scale biomanufacturing at FOAK I facility and advanced through genetic R&D at Piedras Pintas Biofoundry. The company offers Celium™ in multiple variants (Original, Translucent, Espumante, Violacein, Manto) targeting fashion, accessories, footwear, interiors, lighting, and consumer products. Production infrastructure includes the world's first bacterial cellulose biomanufacturing facility in Mexico, while the Terra genetically improved strain platform enables faster growth and denser materials. Products are available globally through direct sales, Swatch Samplers for designer evaluation, and via the Vibe Lab Studio program for consumer products.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Celium™: Premium Cultivated Cellulose - a bacterial cellulose material grown from agro-industrial fruit waste, used as a leather alternative for fashion, accessories, interiors, and automotive applications.
Products and services
- Celium™ Premium Cultivated Cellulose Cultivated bacterial cellulose material grown by feeding proprietary Terra bacterial strains with agro-industrial fruit waste through fermentation, then stabilized (tanned) and finished. Sold in sheet form as a biobased alternative to leather and synthetic materials for fashion brands, automotive manufacturers, interior designers, and consumer product companies. Available in variants including Original, Translucent, Espumante, Violacein, and Manto, with customizable thickness, handfeel, flexibility, color, and embossing.
- Celium™ Swatch Sampler A curated collection of Celium™ material samples designed to inspire and enable designers, studios, and brands to evaluate the material's versatility, including vibrant marbled patterns and classic tones.
- Lapso Celium™ Lamp Sculptural pendant lamp developed by Polybion in collaboration with Natural Urbano, hand-crafted from five translucent Celium™ bacterial cellulose sheets. Each lamp is made to order with unique variations in texture, tone, and translucency. Distributed through Natural Urbano, Polybion, and ADORNO Design marketplace.
- Fold Studies 01 by Vibe Lab Studio Limited-drop consumer products collection under Polybion's Vibe Lab Studio program, consisting of folded everyday objects including Fold Phone Bag, Fold Card Wallet, Fold Phone Wallet, Fold Pyramid Bag, and Fold Passport Sleeve, made with Celium™.
Quantifiable outcome
- 85% bio assembly yield
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Polybion
Customer profileNamed customers12 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Polybion technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Polybion partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.
- Fashion for GoodcoreSelected for Fashion for Good's innovation programme supporting the development and adoption of sustainable materials in fashion. Provides access to industry network, expertise, and potential brand partnerships.
- GANNIflagshipFlagship co-development partnership with Danish fashion brand GANNI for developing and testing Celium™ applications in fashion products. This partnership serves as a key reference for market validation.
- StahlcoreTechnology partnership with Stahl, a leading supplier of leather chemicals and process technologies, for developing tanning and finishing processes for Celium™ material.
- ADORNO DesignminorDistribution partnership through ADORNO Design marketplace platform, enabling designers and smaller brands to access and discover Celium™ materials.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Polybion competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- MycoWorks: MycoWorks produces Fine Mycelium™ (Reishi™) — a mycelium-based leather alternative grown via fermentation — directly competing with Celium™ in the next-gen premium leather market. Both serve luxury fashion brands and pursue industrial-scale biomanufacturing of bio-fabricated materials.
- Bolt Threads: Bolt Threads develops Mylo™, a mycelium-based leather alternative, and has commercialized bio-fabricated materials with fashion brands including Stella McCartney and Adidas. Direct competitor in the cultivated/leather-alternative category with comparable GTM focus on luxury and apparel.
- Modern Meadow: Modern Meadow produces Bio-Alloy™ and other bioengineered protein-based materials for fashion, automotive, and consumer goods. Competes directly with Celium™ in the bio-fabricated leather alternative category, serving similar B2B brand customers.
- Ananas Anam: Ananas Anam produces Piñatex™, a leather alternative made from pineapple leaf fiber (an agricultural waste feedstock). Competes with Celium™ in the plant-based leather alternative space targeting fashion brands and accessories manufacturers.
- Desserto: Desserto produces cactus-based bio-leather from Mexico, directly comparable to Celium™'s biobased leather positioning. Both operate from Mexico with shared customer base in fashion and automotive leather alternatives.
- Ecovative Design: Ecovative produces mycelium-based materials (Forager™) for packaging, food, and materials applications via MyForest Foods. Overlaps with Polybion's earlier mycelium work and competes in the broader cultivated-biomaterials category.
- Spiber: Spiber (Japan) produces Brewed Protein™ — a fermented protein-based structural fiber — used in fashion collaborations with Goldwin and others. Comparable to Polybion as a fermentation-driven next-gen materials company targeting luxury apparel and automotive.
Emerging players
- Keel Labs: Keel Labs produces seaweed-based yarns and fibers for textiles, intersecting with Polybion's biobased materials focus on fashion and accessories. Earlier stage but competes for the same sustainable fashion customer wallet.
Broad incumbents
- Natural Fiber Welding: Natural Fiber Welding develops plant-protein-based materials (Mirum®) for fashion and automotive interiors. Established player with patented platform serving similar end-markets to Celium™, including major footwear brands.
Others
- Stahl: Stahl is a leading supplier of leather chemicals, coatings, and process technologies — already a partner of Polybion for Celium™ finishing. Comparable as an adjacent/ecosystem participant enabling leather and leather-alternative supply chains.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Polybion social profiles
Digital presencePolybion compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Polybion financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Polybion leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
Polybion funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Polybion 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 Polybion
What does Polybion do?
Polybion manufactures Celium™, a cultivated bacterial cellulose material grown by feeding proprietary Terra bacterial strains with agro-industrial fruit waste through industrial fermentation. The material is produced as sheets that are then stabilized and tanned, serving as a biobased, premium alternative to animal leather and petroleum-derived synthetics for fashion, footwear, accessories, automotive interiors, lighting, and consumer product applications.
Is Polybion a public or private company?
Polybion is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Polybion founded?
Polybion was founded in 2015. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Polybion based?
Polybion is headquartered in Irapuato, Mexico, in the Latin America region.
How does Polybion make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Celium™ Material Sales are the primary driver. The others are custom Material Development.
Who are Polybion's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are MycoWorks, Bolt Threads, Modern Meadow, Ananas Anam, Desserto, Ecovative Design and Spiber. Keel Labs is listed as an emerging player. Natural Fiber Welding is listed as a broad incumbent. Stahl is listed as an others.
Does Polybion have an API?
No public API is recorded for Polybion.
What industry is Polybion in?
Polybion's product category is Cultivated Biomaterials. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAEAOAE, Cellulose-Based Biodegradable Materials (cellulose films, fibers, derivatives), with a secondary code of IMAEAOAB, Biodegradable Packaging Materials (films, trays, foams). Its NAICS code is 325211 and its SIC code is 2820.