BASF invests in Heartland, a hemp-based plastics additives maker

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In Michigan, Chemovator, the business incubator and early-stage investor of BASF, has finalized an undisclosed investment in Heartland, a startup developing natural fiber plastic additives.

Heartland’s hemp-based materials can be used as additives within plastic compounds. The innovation improves properties with regard to flammability, bonding, dispersion, and bulk density, which are historically associated with processing natural fibers. As a result, natural fibers are now a viable market opportunity to reduce scope 3 carbon emissions in numerous industries.

With this funding, Heartland becomes Chemovator’s first portfolio company in North America and the latest addition to the Chemovator Elevate program. The program aims to support early-stage startups in the chemical industry through monetary investment, access to BASF and its experts, as well as support from a network of experienced entrepreneurs.