Report on NantBioRenewables’ Nomination for the 2025 Reuters Global Sustainability Award

Introduction: Innovation in Sustainable Materials

NantBioRenewables has been recognized as a finalist for the Product Innovation Award at the 2025 Reuters Global Sustainability Awards. The nomination honors the company’s BioCal carbon-negative compostable straws, a product under its Wave Ware brand. This acknowledgment highlights the company’s significant contributions to sustainable business models and its role in advancing the global transition toward a net-zero economy, directly aligning with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Product Profile: BioCal and the Wave Ware Line

Technological Advancement and Environmental Impact

The Wave Ware product line, which includes straws, disposable tableware, and cutlery, is engineered to provide a sustainable alternative to single-use plastics. The key innovation is the use of BioCal, a proprietary material formulated with Ocean Calcium Sand (OCS).

• Carbon-Negative Material: OCS is a carbon-negative mineral derived from natural “whiting” events, which actively sequesters CO₂ from the atmosphere. Its inclusion makes the manufacturing process environmentally restorative.
• Compostability: All Wave Ware products are designed to be fully compostable, breaking down to create soil-friendly compost and eliminating plastic waste.
• Market Performance: Since its launch in 2023, NantBioRenewables has processed over 84 million BPI-certified straws, demonstrating scalable production and market acceptance.

Alignment with UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

NantBioRenewables’ strategy and product offerings demonstrate a profound commitment to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The company’s initiatives make direct and measurable contributions to several key SDGs.

SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

1. Circular Economy: The company promotes a circular model by transforming renewable resources (OCS) into products that return to the earth as beneficial compost.
2. Sustainable Sourcing: The use of sustainably sourced OCS reduces dependence on finite fossil fuels for petrochemical plastic production.
3. Waste Reduction: By offering a viable alternative to single-use plastics, the company directly addresses the challenge of plastic pollution and promotes sustainable waste management.

SDG 13: Climate Action

• The carbon-negative properties of BioCal straws represent a direct contribution to climate change mitigation by removing atmospheric CO₂.

SDG 14: Life Below Water & SDG 15: Life on Land

• Marine Protection: The company’s mission to replace microplastics with compostable bioplastics is critical to reducing plastic pollution in oceans, protecting marine biodiversity.
• Terrestrial Ecosystems: The end-of-life solution for Wave Ware products enhances soil health through compost, contributing to the restoration of land ecosystems and reducing landfill burden.

SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

• NantBioRenewables exemplifies sustainable industrial innovation by developing and scaling new technologies and materials. The company is building a new infrastructure for sustainable packaging manufactured in the United States.

Corporate Vision and Industry Leadership

Mission and Strategic Goals

As part of the NANT ecosystem founded by Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, NantBioRenewables shares a vision of solving global challenges through scientific innovation. The company’s primary objective is to lead the global replacement of microplastics with compostable bioplastics by 2030, prioritizing social and environmental responsibility.

Company leadership views the Reuters award nomination as a validation of this mission. Kenn Budlong, COO, stated that the recognition is a testament to the team’s hard work in addressing critical environmental challenges and setting new industry standards. Barbara Schreiner, Marketing & Communications Manager, emphasized that the nomination reflects a relentless pursuit of innovation that benefits both consumers and the planet. The company’s inclusion as a finalist alongside other innovators like DuPont, Masdar, and UBQ Materials underscores its position at the forefront of the sustainability sector.

Conclusion and Forward Outlook

NantBioRenewables’ nomination for the Reuters Global Sustainability Award marks a significant milestone in its mission to transform the packaging industry. The company’s innovative use of carbon-negative, compostable materials provides a scalable solution that directly supports multiple Sustainable Development Goals. The winner of the award will be announced at the Global Sustainability Awards Ceremony on October 22, 2025, an event that will further showcase the company’s efforts to promote a more sustainable future.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: The article highlights the company NantBioRenewables’ “innovative BioCal carbon-negative compostable straws” and their nomination for a “Product Innovation Award.” This focus on creating new, sustainable technologies and transforming the packaging industry directly relates to fostering innovation and sustainable industrialization.
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production: The core subject is the creation of sustainable products like compostable straws, tableware, and cutlery. The company’s focus on the “full life cycle of our products,” “sustainable sourcing,” and creating “compostable end-of-life solutions” to replace traditional plastics embodies the principles of responsible consumption and production.
• SDG 13: Climate Action: The article explicitly mentions that the company is committed to accelerating the “transition toward a net-zero future.” The BioCal straws are described as “carbon-negative,” meaning they “actively contribute to CO₂ removal from the atmosphere,” which is a direct measure of climate action.
• SDG 14: Life Below Water: The company’s vision is to lead the “change in replacing microplastics with compostable bioplastics worldwide.” Since microplastics are a major source of ocean pollution, this initiative directly contributes to protecting marine ecosystems. The use of “Ocean Calcium Sand” and the brand name “Wave Ware” further strengthen this connection.
• SDG 15: Life on Land: The products are designed to be “compostable, promoting soil-friendly compost.” By providing an alternative to plastic waste that pollutes land and harms terrestrial ecosystems, and by creating a product that can enrich soil, the company’s work is relevant to protecting life on land.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

   • Target 9.4: By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes. The article supports this by describing NantBioRenewables as a “pioneering company dedicated to developing innovative, sustainable packaging solutions” and using “breakthrough technologies like Ocean Calcium Sand” to “transform industries.”

2. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

   • Target 12.4: By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle… and significantly reduce their release to air, water and soil. This is addressed through the company’s focus on the “full life cycle of our products—from sustainable sourcing of raw materials to compostable end-of-life solutions.”
   • Target 12.5: By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse. The creation of compostable straws and tableware is a direct strategy to prevent and reduce plastic waste, which is a major contributor to global waste generation.

3. SDG 13: Climate Action

   • Target 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation. By developing and promoting “carbon-negative” products and being recognized at the “Reuters Global Sustainability Awards,” the company raises awareness and sets a new standard for what sustainable, climate-friendly products can achieve.

4. SDG 14: Life Below Water

   • Target 14.1: By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris. The company’s mission to “replacing microplastics with compostable bioplastics worldwide” directly addresses the prevention of marine debris originating from land.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Development of clean technologies: The creation and launch of “BioCal carbon-negative compostable straws” and the “Wave Ware” product line serve as a primary indicator of innovation in sustainable technology.
• Volume of sustainable products produced: The article states that the company has “processed over 84 million straws” since its launch in 2023. This is a quantifiable indicator of the scale of plastic replacement and waste reduction efforts.
• Certification of sustainable products: Achieving “BPI certification” is a specific, verifiable indicator that the products meet established standards for compostability.
• Contribution to CO₂ removal: The claim that the products are “carbon-negative” and “actively contribute to CO₂ removal from the atmosphere” is a key performance indicator for climate action, even if the exact tonnage is not specified.
• Industry recognition: Being named a finalist for the “Product Innovation Award at the 2025 Reuters Global Sustainability Awards” serves as a qualitative indicator of the significance and impact of the company’s innovations.

4. Summary of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

SDGs	Targets	Indicators
SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure	9.4: Upgrade industries to make them sustainable and adopt clean, environmentally sound technologies.	Development of “BioCal” and “Wave Ware” technologies; Recognition as a finalist for the “Product Innovation Award.”
SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production	12.4: Achieve environmentally sound management of all wastes throughout their life cycle. 12.5: Substantially reduce waste generation.	Focus on the “full life cycle” of products; Production of “over 84 million straws” as plastic alternatives; “BPI certification” for compostability.
SDG 13: Climate Action	13.3: Improve awareness-raising and capacity on climate change mitigation.	Products are “carbon-negative” and “actively contribute to CO₂ removal from the atmosphere.”
SDG 14: Life Below Water	14.1: Prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution, including marine debris.	Company vision of “replacing microplastics with compostable bioplastics worldwide.”
SDG 15: Life on Land	15.5: Take urgent action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats.	Products are designed to be “compostable, promoting soil-friendly compost.”

Source: finance.yahoo.com