Newlight's AirCarbon PHB offers Nike a carbon reduction opportunity

Newlight Technologies, a California-based biotech company and manufacturer of polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), has partnered with sporting goods company Nike to explore the use of Newlight’s materials in new, more sustainable products that Nike will develop.
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PHB is a carbon-negative biomaterial produced by marine microorganisms and is one of the best-known members of the PHA family
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Microorganisms produce and store PHA as a storage material for carbon and energy
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PHB is produced in every ecosystem on Earth
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It is a 100% renewable resource and biodegrades in basically any environment, including the ocean
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Newlight has successfully developed the technology to mass produce and market this biopolymer under the AirCarbon brand
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According to Newight Technologies CEO Mark Herrema, AirCarbon is about 40 percent by weight derived from oxygen in the air and 60 percent from greenhouse gases
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Certified by SCS Global Services as carbon negative, AirCarbon produces a net reduction of carbon dioxide emissions in the atmosphere by being produced and can be melted into a range of forms, from fibers and sheets to solid shapes
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The material is currently used in fashion as a carbon-negative alternative to plastics and leather, including eyeglasses, wallets and purses
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Currently, Nike is studying its potential in various applications
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Noel Kinder, Chief Sustainability Officer at Nike, said: “AirCarbon presents an opportunity to further reduce our impact on the planet
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Materials account for 70% of Nike’s total carbon footprint and we are accelerating our efforts and exploring new opportunities in this area, Because in the race to tackle climate change, we desperately need new solutions
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“Our mission is massive change, and there is no better partner in the world to help make it happen,” Herrema said.
“We are excited to explore how AirCarbon can help Nike decarbonize its products and achieve its ambitious carbon reduction targets
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