made of air

What made of air does

Made of Air GmbH is a Berlin-based deep-tech materials company founded in 2016 by Allison Dring and Daniel Schwaag that converts wood waste biomass into carbon-negative industrial materials. Its core technology subjects forestry byproducts (sawdust, wood chips) to pyrolysis to produce biochar at approximately -3 tons CO2 per ton, then applies proprietary chemical and surface functionalization treatments to create "super-engineered" biocarbon fillers compatible with standard polymer processing methods such as injection molding, compression molding, and extrusion.

The commercial portfolio centers on three product formats: functional fillers (sold as filler, compound, or masterbatch for compounders and manufacturers replacing mineral fillers such as talc), finished facade panels under the Sequoia brand for the built environment, and specialized compounds such as Prime Flex for injection-molded consumer goods. Additional deployments include the HexAudi facade panels for an Audi dealership in Bavaria and a Megalith sheet-form compound for built-environment applications. Customers and partners include Audi, BMW, H&M, Warema, and architectural manufacturer Arktura.

Made of Air monetizes through one-time sales of biocarbon fillers and Sequoia panels plus co-development and licensing arrangements with manufacturers. Pricing is quote-based and undisclosed, with multi-year B2B contracts typical. The company holds more than five patents on its functionalization processes and has secured third-party validated environmental product data (EPD, -1.95 kg CO2e/kg sequestration rate, 40% GWP reduction versus talc-filled recycled polypropylene). Headcount stood at 23–25 employees as of late 2022/early 2024, with a Carbon Lab R&D facility in Berlin and a pilot factory planned in Brandenburg supported by an IBB ProFIT grant and GRW regional funding.

Name

made of air

Legal name

Made of Air GmbH

Website

https://madeofair.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Made of Air is a Berlin-based deep-tech materials company that converts wood waste into carbon-negative biocarbon fillers and facade panels for the built environment, automotive, and consumer goods industries, replacing mineral fillers such as talc in polymer composites.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Carbon-negative building materials and biocarbon composites

NAICS

Cyclic Crude, Intermediate, and Gum and Wood Chemical Manufacturing (325194)

SIC

Industrial Organic Chemicals (2860), Lumber & Wood Products (No Furniture) (2400)

akta.pro primary industry

Bio-based Carbon Products & Advanced Bioproducts (Biochar, activated carbon, carbon black alternatives) (EUAAAIAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Biochar, Activated Carbon & Soil Amendments (from forest biomass) (IMAMALAH), Wood Treatment & Specialty Preservatives (IMAEABAO), Wood Waste Processing & Recycling (Mulch/Biomass) (BPALAJAE)

Keywords

• Carbon-negative materials
• Biocarbon functional fillers
• Biochar composites
• Sustainable facade panels
• Carbon capture materials

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Biocarbon Functional Fillers: Sale of carbon-negative biocarbon fillers to compounders and manufacturers for use in polymer composites. Offered in multiple forms: filler, compound, and masterbatch for different manufacturing processes. Targets replacement of mineral fillers like talc in plastics.
2. Sequoia Facade Panels: Sale of carbon-negative facade products (Sequoia) for the built environment. These are ready-made architectural panels composed of biocarbon using Made of Air's functionalization technology with bio-resin derived from wood.
3. Co-development and Licensing: Co-development partnerships with manufacturers to develop custom materials for specific applications. Collaborative engineering to create perfect material solutions for partner requirements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Made of Air converts wood waste biomass into carbon-negative biocarbon through pyrolysis and then applies proprietary surface functionalization to produce engineered fillers and finished materials. Its sellable offerings include Sequoia carbon-negative rainscreen facade panels, Functional Fillers sold as filler, compound, or masterbatch to compounders and manufacturers, and specialty compounds such as Prime Flex for injection molding and Megalith for sheet-form built-environment applications. These products target enterprise manufacturers seeking drop-in ready alternatives to mineral fillers and high-emission building materials.

Product overview

Made of Air is a deep-tech materials company producing carbon-negative industrial products from wood waste biomass. The product portfolio centers on Sequoia (carbon-negative rainscreen facade panels) and Functional Fillers (biocarbon fillers available as pellets, compounds, or masterbatch at -3 tons CO2/ton). Supporting products include Prime Flex for injection molding, HexAudi facade panels, and Megalith sheet compounds. All products utilize proprietary biocarbon functionalization technology developed at their Carbon Lab R&D facility, converting biomass waste into engineered carbon sinks for the built environment and consumer goods industries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Sequoia: Carbon negative rainscreen facade product made from 100% bio-material, composed of biocarbon using Made of Air's unique functionalization technology.
• Prime Flex
• Carbon Lab
• Carbon Lab Podcast

Products and services

• Sequoia Carbon-negative rainscreen facade panels made from 100% bio-material (biocarbon and bio-resin derived from wood). Stores atmospheric CO2 permanently in building facades with excellent fire resistance and outstanding decarbonization properties. For architectural manufacturers, developers, and construction firms.
• Functional Fillers Carbon-negative, lightweight biogenic fillers produced at -3 tons CO2 per ton, offered as filler, compound, or masterbatch for biocomposites. Replaces mineral fillers like talc in industrial polymer applications including injection molding, compression molding, and extrusion. For polymer compounders and manufacturers.
• Prime Flex Carbon-negative compound specifically formulated for injection molding processes, designed to decarbonize consumer goods and replace fossil-based plastics. For consumer goods manufacturers and injection molders.
• HexAudi Custom carbon-negative facade panels with hexagonal design, created for Audi's car dealership and permanently sequestering over 10 tons of CO2 from the atmosphere at a rate of -1.95kg CO2e per kg. For automotive retail and architectural installations.
• Megalith Sheet form biocarbon compound targeting the built environment, intended to be the first commercially sold panels made of captured carbon. For architectural and construction applications.

Quantifiable outcome

• HexAudi project permanently sequestered over 10 tons of CO2 from atmosphere
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

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

• ArkturaflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 August 2022Strategic partnership to decarbonize the built environment. Arktura is a leading manufacturer of high-end design-focused architectural wall, ceiling, and facade panels. Partnership enables carbon-negative building products at scale using Arktura's manufacturing expertise and Made of Air's material technology.
• Kickstart InnovationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSelected for 2024 cohort providing access to corporate partners (Swisscom, IKEA Switzerland, Romande Energie), decision-makers, and potential partners. 11-week program with closing ceremony at Kraftwerk in Zurich.
• CRCLR HouseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-location partner for Carbon Lab R&D facility. CRCLR House is a collaborative workspace in Berlin built from affordable, reused materials. Made of Air was one of the first partners of CRCLR House.
• Positive PlasticsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMade of Air's Prime Flex material included in Positive Plastics' Kit 2 of sustainable materials, a significant step for market entrance in consumer goods applications.
• Bloomberg PhilanthropiesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerInvited by Bloomberg Philanthropies to attend London Climate Action Week as one of 30 companies nominated for The Earthshot Prize.
• Earthshot PrizeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOne of 30 companies nominated for The Earthshot Prize 2024. Participated in Breakthrough Energy Summit with Bill Gates and Stories of Impact with Michael R. Bloomberg and HRH Prince William.
• Impact Hub BerlinminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMoved office to Impact Hub Berlin in Q1 2023 to be closer to R&D facility and share space with like-minded sustainability companies.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Novocarbo: Germany-based biochar producer focused on carbon removal and biochar-based applications including construction materials. Most directly comparable European competitor in the biocarbon-for-built-environment space.
• Biochar Now: US-based biochar manufacturer focused on agricultural and industrial biochar applications. Comparable upstream biochar production from biomass waste streams.
• Carbofex: Finnish biochar producer using pyrolysis of woody biomass, with focus on carbon removal certificates and biochar for industrial/environmental applications. Comparable feedstock and process technology.
• CarbonOrO: Producer of bio-based carbon materials and fillers from biomass for polymer and industrial applications. Closely comparable in technology (functionalized bio-based carbon) and target use cases.

Emerging players

• Charm Industrial: Carbon removal company converting biomass into bio-oil for permanent underground sequestration. Comparable biomass-to-carbon thesis and corporate Scope-3 buyer base, though different end product (liquid injection vs. materials).
• Heirloom Carbon Technologies: Carbon removal company using limestone-based DAC with mineralized outputs for construction materials (limestone-incorporating concrete). Comparable narrative of carbon-to-building-materials and similar enterprise customer base.

Broad incumbents

• Origin Materials: Public bio-based chemicals company converting biomass into sustainable materials for packaging and polymers. Comparable in biomass-to-industrial-input model and enterprise customer base, though broader chemical platform.
• CarbonCure Technologies: Larger carbon-utilization company injecting CO2 into concrete for the construction sector. Comparable end market (decarbonizing building materials) though via mineralized CO2 rather than biomass-derived carbon.
• ArcelorMittal (Steligence, XCarb): Major steelmaker with low/zero-carbon product initiatives competing for embodied-carbon-conscious construction projects. Comparable as incumbent carbon-conscious material supplier competing with Made of Air's facade panels.

Others

• Positive Plastics: Curator of sustainable polymer material kits for designers including biochar-based options; existing Made of Air distribution partner. Comparable as ecosystem enabler channel for low-carbon material adoption in consumer goods.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/madeofair
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@MadeofAir
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/made-of-air
• Instagraminstagram.com/madeofair

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors4 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 made of air