Biomaterial in Tokyo

What Biomaterial in Tokyo does

Biomaterial in Tokyo (bits) is a Japanese biotechnology company founded in 2006 in Ōnojō, Fukuoka Prefecture, that develops and deploys cellulosic (second-generation) bioethanol and Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) production technologies. The company's technical foundation rests on proprietary Trichoderma reesei fungal strains for cellulase enzyme production, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and recombinant E. coli/C. glabrata co-culture systems for fermenting both hexose and pentose sugars, and Labyrinthula oleaginous microalgae strains that produce lipids compatible with SAF and high-value nutraceuticals (DHA, EPA, astaxanthin). Its offerings span second-generation bioethanol plant design at 10–20,000 kL/year scales, Alcohol-to-Jet SAF plant design and construction at 10–150 kL/year scale, on-site enzyme production licensing, CORSIA certification advisory, and GHG/LCA quantification services. The company operates through direct B2B enterprise sales to paper manufacturers, petroleum refiners, trading houses, and government agencies, with engagements typically structured as multi-year capital-project contracts and government R&D co-funding under NEDO and Ministry of Environment programs.

The firm monetizes across five distinct revenue streams: bioethanol and SAF product sales (transaction-fee model), enzyme products and on-site production licensing (licensing/royalty model), plant design and engineering services (professional services), technology consulting for CORSIA/GHG/supply-chain (professional services), and government R&D project contracts (managed services). Its customer base is concentrated in Japan's domestic market with a small Australian footprint via wholly-owned bits Australia Pty Ltd. In April 2024, 60% of shares were transferred to Rengo Co., Ltd., a major Japanese packaging and paper products conglomerate, making Biomaterial in Tokyo a majority-owned Rengo Group subsidiary while founder Izumi Koya continues as Representative Director. The company employs 24 people across headquarters in Ōnojō, a research institute in Chikushino (Fukuoka), and a Chiba office, and operates two core subsidiaries — bits Australia Pty Ltd and Labyrinthula Co., Ltd. — alongside a notable regulatory milestone: supporting Maruzumi Seishi Ōe Factory in becoming the world's first pulp mill to achieve ISCC-CORSIA certification for SAF production in August 2024.

Name

Biomaterial in Tokyo

Legal name

株式会社 Biomaterial in Tokyo

Website

https://biomt.co.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Biomaterial in Tokyo is a Japanese biotech firm that designs cellulosic bioethanol and Alcohol-to-Jet SAF plants, licenses proprietary Trichoderma reesei enzyme systems, and provides CORSIA certification advisory, serving paper manufacturers, petroleum refiners, fuel distributors, and government R&D programs across Japan.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Biofuel Engineering Services

NAICS

Chemical Manufacturing (325), Resin and Synthetic Rubber Manufacturing (32521), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)

SIC

Industrial Organic Chemicals (2860), Plastic Material, Synth Resin/Rubber, Cellulos (No Glass) (2820), Chemicals & Allied Products (2800)

akta.pro primary industry

Cellulosic Biofuels & Renewable Fuels (2G ethanol, SAF intermediates) (IMAMALAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Bio-based Polymers & Bioplastics (e.g., PLA, PHA, bio-PE/PP/PET, PBS) (EUAAAIAC), Biorefinery Technology & Contract Processing (fractionation, tolling, scale-up) (IMAMALAL), Biochemicals & Bio-based Platform Chemicals (cellulose sugars, lignin derivatives, organic acids) (IMAMALAB)

Keywords

• Cellulosic bioethanol
• Sustainable aviation fuel
• Biomass conversion technology
• Enzyme manufacturing services
• Biorefinery engineering

Headquarters

HQ city

Onojo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Bioethanol and SAF Product Sales: Direct sale of second-generation bioethanol produced from cellulose-based biomass (waste paper, pulp mill residues, agricultural waste) to fuel distributors who convert it to SAF, and to chemical companies producing bio-based polyethylene and polystyrene. Target capacity of 20,000 kL/year bioethanol by 2027 through the Daiko Seishi partnership.
2. Enzyme Products and On-site Production Licensing: Production and supply of proprietary cellulase enzymes manufactured using Trichoderma reesei strains. On-site enzyme production licensing includes strain provision, culture methodology training, and operational guidance, enabling bioethanol plant operators to produce enzymes in-house at significantly reduced cost.
3. Plant Design and Engineering Services: Turnkey bioethanol and SAF plant design, construction, commissioning, and operational consulting. Services encompass material and energy balance optimization, equipment selection, staffing plans, and process integration. Design capabilities span 10 kL/year to 20,000 kL/year production scales.
4. Technology Consulting (Supply Chain, CORSIA, GHG): Bespoke consulting services covering supply chain design and negotiation with authorities, CORSIA/ISCC certification acquisition, GHG emission calculations and LCA, and regulatory compliance with aviation fuel specifications. Services are tailored to each client's feedstock, product, and market requirements.
5. Government R&D Project Contracts: Revenue from participation in publicly funded R&D programs as technology developer and co-implementer. Projects with NEDO (国立研究開発法人新エネルギー・産業技術総合開発機構) and Ministry of Environment (環境省) cover areas including 2nd-generation bioethanol production, SAF supply chain construction, bioplastics manufacturing, and Labyrinthula microalgae cultivation technology.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Biomaterial in Tokyo (bits) develops and deploys biotechnology for converting cellulose-based waste (waste paper, pulp residues, agricultural residues, wood chips, coffee grounds) into second-generation bioethanol and Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) via the Alcohol-to-Jet process. The company sells proprietary cellulase enzymes produced using Trichoderma reesei fungal strains, designs and builds bioethanol and SAF plants at scales from 10 kL/year to 20,000 kL/year, provides ISCC-CORSIA certification acquisition support, and offers greenhouse gas emission reduction calculation services for regulatory compliance and ESG reporting.

Product overview

Biomaterial in Tokyo (bits) offers a portfolio of biotechnology-based products and services centered on converting cellulose-based biomass into sustainable energy and materials. The core offerings consist of second-generation bioethanol manufacturing, Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) production using the Alcohol-to-Jet (ATJ) process, and proprietary enzyme manufacturing for cellulose saccharification. These three products form an integrated value chain — enzymes are used internally to produce second-generation bioethanol, which is then converted into SAF — supplemented by GHG emission reduction calculation services and CORSIA certification support to help customers achieve compliance and market SAF products internationally.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Second-generation cellulosic bioethanol Cellulosic bioethanol produced from cellulose-based raw materials such as waste paper, pulp, agricultural residues, and wood biomass; the company provides plant design, construction, and supply chain services for facilities ranging from 10 to 20,000 kL/year.
• Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) manufacturing Manufacturing of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) using the Alcohol-to-Jet (ATJ) process that converts second-generation bioethanol into jet fuel; the company designs and builds SAF plants at 10–150 kL/year scale and provides consulting for 20,000 kL/year facilities.
• Cellulase enzyme production

Quantifiable outcome

• 20,000 kL/year second-generation bioethanol production capacity targeted by 2027 through Daiko Seishi partnership
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Maruzumi Seishi (丸住製紙) — Ōe FactorycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 August 2024Maruzumi Seishi Ōe Factory (四国中央市, Ehime Prefecture) achieved the world's first ISCC-CORSIA certification for a pulp mill, with Biomaterial in Tokyo providing the core technology development, supply chain construction, and certification acquisition support under the NEDO pulp-to-SAF supply chain demonstration project. This landmark certification establishes pulp mills as viable upstream feedstock producers for the sustainable aviation fuel industry.
• Daiko Seishi Co., Ltd. (大興製紙株式会社)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 February 2024Partnership with Daiko Seishi (headquartered in Fuji City, Shizuoka; CEO: Shioya Yoshihisa) to produce second-generation bioethanol for use as SAF feedstock. Target of 20,000 kL/year bioethanol production by 2027. Biomaterial in Tokyo provides comprehensive support including proprietary biotechnology, plant design, supply chain construction, and CORSIA certification acquisition. Funded under NEDO's grant and commissioned research programs.
• Labyrinthula Co., Ltd. (株式会社ラビリンチュラ)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 September 2022Biomaterial in Tokyo established Labyrinthula Co., Ltd. as a wholly-owned subsidiary to commercialize Labyrinthula microalgae technology developed over 30 years of fundamental research. The subsidiary targets three sectors: (1) bio-fuel and bioplastics for decarbonization, (2) fish meal/fish oil alternatives for aquaculture feed, and (3) high-value functional materials leveraging Labyrinthula's metabolic control capabilities.
• Miyazaki University / JST OPERA Functional Bio Consortium (宮崎大学 / JST/OPERA 機能性バイオ共創コンソーシアム)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 May 2021Biomaterial in Tokyo participates in the JST/OPERA Functional Bio Creation Consortium hosted by the University of Tokyo, collaborating with Professor Hayashi of Miyazaki University on a project to produce valuable oils from Labyrinthula microalgae. Labyrinthula produces DHA, EPA, astaxanthin, and palmitic acid — oils with carbon chains compatible with both nutraceuticals and SAF production. The foundational technology was developed 5 years earlier under a NEDO project.
• Mitsubishi Plant Service Co., Ltd. (三友プラン卜サービス株式会社) — Kawasaki FactoryminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 30 September 2020A 30 L/day SAF production test unit was installed at Mitsubishi Plant Service's Kawasaki factory as part of the NEDO bio-jet fuel production technology development project. This facility enabled the company to demonstrate the ATJ process from bioethanol to aviation fuel at pre-commercial scale before scaling to the 150 kL/year Ehime plant.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Euglena Co., Ltd. Euglena is a Japanese biofuel and microalgae-based biotechnology company developing SAF and bio-jet fuel from algae; it directly competes with Biomaterial in Tokyo's Labyrinthula subsidiary on microalgae-derived fuels and nutraceuticals in Japan.
• Gevo: Gevo develops cellulosic and renewable isobutanol-to-jet-fuel pathways and SAF offtake agreements, making it a direct peer in the alcohol-to-jet SAF category with comparable technology positioning and target customer set (airlines, fuel distributors).
• SunFire: SunFire develops e-fuels and power-to-liquid SAF pathways in Europe; it overlaps with Biomaterial in Tokyo in the SAF licensing, plant design, and decarbonization-of-aviation-fuels customer category.
• Velocys: Velocys designs and licenses Fischer-Tropsch microchannel reactors for SAF from biomass and waste feedstocks; it competes for the same SAF licensing, plant design, and offtake engagements as Biomaterial in Tokyo.
• LanzaTech: LanzaTech is a US-based cellulosic-ethanol-to-SAF pioneer using gas fermentation; it is the most direct global comparator to Biomaterial in Tokyo's cellulosic ethanol + ATJ SAF model and competes for the same aviation customers and feedstock partnerships.

Broad incumbents

• Mitsui Chemicals: Mitsui Chemicals is a major Japanese chemical manufacturer with bio-based polymer and chemical feedstock portfolios; it competes broadly with Biomaterial in Tokyo's bioplastics and bioethanol-for-chemicals value chain as a much larger diversified incumbent.
• IHI Corporation: IHI is a major Japanese industrial conglomerate pursuing SAF and bioenergy projects domestically; it competes with Biomaterial in Tokyo as a broad incumbent with deeper capital and engineering scale for Japanese SAF deployment.
• Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd. Sekisui Chemical is a diversified Japanese materials company with bio-based and sustainable-materials initiatives; it competes broadly with Biomaterial in Tokyo on bio-based feedstocks for plastics and packaging as a much larger incumbent.

Others

• JERA Co., Inc. JERA is a major Japanese utility pursuing SAF procurement and co-firing initiatives; it is a potential offtake customer and ecosystem participant for Biomaterial in Tokyo rather than a direct competitor.

Emerging players

• Vertoro: Vertoro develops lignin-based crude oil for SAF and bio-based products; it is an emerging player with partial overlap in cellulosic-biomass-to-fuel pathways relevant to Biomaterial in Tokyo's technology and customer base.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Biomaterial in Tokyo