ReSource Chemical Corp., an advanced manufacturing startup, has completed a $15 million funding round co-led by Khosla Ventures and Fathom Fund. The company wants to revolutionize the production of plastics and specialty chemicals without relying on fossil fuels. By using innovative technology, ReSource converts renewable feedstocks, including CO2 and agricultural waste, into naturally occurring substances that exceed the performance of conventional petrochemicals.
ReSource’s primary product is 2,5-Furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA), a critical component for producing PEF, a promising alternative to PET. PET is widely used in products like bottles and packaging. PEF demonstrates enhanced strength, durability, and thermal performance, along with improved recycling capabilities. For instance, PEF has a tenfold better oxygen barrier and a sixteenfold better carbon dioxide barrier compared to PET.
Despite these advantages, the high costs of traditional FDCA production have hindered PEF’s viability. ReSource has developed a streamlined FDCA production process that significantly lowers costs and facilitates scalable manufacturing. This development addresses challenges within the over $100 billion global PET market.
The technology is built on CO2 chemistry co-invented by ReSource’s team at Stanford University, specifically the lab of Professor Matthew Kanan, who currently serves as the company’s Chief Scientific Advisor. Kanan noted that the process reduces complexity and unlocks FDCA’s potential as a versatile building block in various applications.
The company’s vision extends to creating biodegradable plastics that are non-toxic and produced sustainably. Co-founder and CEO Aanindeeta Banerjee stated that ReSource seeks to provide high-performance materials without environmental or health risks.
