Planet Earth is a giant cellulose factory — producing more than 15,000 kg per person every single year. Materials, food, fuel: nature has been building mostly with it for more than 400 million years. We believe it's time we learn to do the same.
The challenge
We extract and consume around 100 billion tonnes of material every year. That's 12,500 kg per capita. Less than 20% of these are renewable and circularity concerns only 7%. Depletion, pollution and climate change force us to find large-scale alternatives.
On the other hand, our planet produces more than 150 billion tonnes of cellulose every year. Cellulose is the most abundant organic compound on Earth — a fibre, a fuel and a food at the same time. We already know how to extract it, transform it and recycle it at a very large scale.
The fundamental challenge in establishing cellulose as a universal feedstock is developing cost-effective processes that unlock the functional properties required for materials, food, and fuel. That's why we are here: to enable a large-scale transition towards the Cellulocene.
Our story
Lasting revolutions are never rushed.
It all begins on Christmas Eve 1996, when Dr. Daniel Samain discovers a solvent-free molecular grafting process he names chromatogeny.
Over the next two decades, he refines the science, demonstrates its versatility across different substrates, and attempts to scale the process to industrial levels. Despite encouraging progress, the venture comes to a halt.
In 2020, Cellulotech is incorporated in Canada to revive this technology and bring it to scale. Thanks to a new process, the reaction time is cut by nearly 40×, and the grafting quality is greatly improved. Patents are filed and granted across numerous jurisdictions.
In 2024, Cellulotech opens a dedicated R&D subsidiary in France to build an industrial pilot and develop new substrates and applications. It also handles commercialization across Europe.
In 2025, a fundraising round led by Neglected Climate Opportunities — the Grantham Foundation's fund — accelerates industrial scaling and gives the Cellulotech group every asset it needs to realize its vision.
Our approach
Lasting change requires solutions that are affordable, scalable and proven — all at once.
The team
Advisors
Supporters & partners
We are proud to be supported by leading cleantech accelerators, institutions and investors who share our vision.
Investors
Partners, accelerators & programs
Pre-Commercialized Renewable Material category.
Material Innovation category.
