BioFire

Mission

BioFire uses biotechnology to deliver a novel, biobased flame-retardant for a multi-billion-euro market shifting toward higher-functionality, regulation-ready, and sustainable formulations.

The Problem

Fire safety regulations are a hard barrier to adopting many biobased construction materials. Natural fiber composites (NFCs) such as flax, hemp, cork-based panels are attractive for their low environmental footprint and desirable mechanical and insulation properties, but they are inherently flammable and typically fail to meet required fire classifications under EN 13501-1. This standard defines material fire performance from A to F in Europe. Natural fibers often fall into D or E, while most construction applications require B or higher. As a result, these materials are excluded from regulated uses, such as in load- and non-load- bearing construction components, where fire classification is mandatory for permitting and market access.

State of the Art

Fire safety still depends heavily on mineral fillers and halogen-based flame retardants. They often require high loadings, complicate processing, raise costs, and can degrade material performance. Many also come with environmental and end-of-life drawbacks. Meanwhile, regulations are tightening and manufacturers need safer, more sustainable options that still meet demanding fire standards. Most commercial flame-retardant systems are either inorganic fillers or synthetic chemicals. They can work well, but are typically non-renewable, can be hygroscopic, and often compromise recyclability or end-of-life. Biobased alternatives are widely discussed in research, but very few have proven scalable, cost-viable, and compatible with industrial manufacturing.

Our Solution

BioFire develops a 100% biobased, biodegradable, non-halogen flame retardant made from bacterial extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). In nature, EPS functions as microbial “glue” in biofilm formation. As a flame-retardant, it acts primarily through a condensed-phase mechanism: upon fire exposure, its complex composition (proteins, polysaccharides, melanin, and inorganic compounds) promotes the formation of a stable char layer. This char acts as a physical barrier, reducing heat and fuel transfer. Beyond flame retardancy, this same composition provides intrinsic adhesive functionality (through proteins and sugars) and contributes to UV resistance (through melanin), making the material multifunctional. The material is developed under the name Lijmexa, reflecting both its adhesive properties (“lijm” in Dutch) and its alkaline extraction.

What Makes BioFire Different

Collaboration

We partner with composite manufacturers and flame-retardant formulators to rapidly develop and validate application-specific prototypes, moving at startup speed.