Soarce, a rapidly growing green chemical company, is preparing to open a new manufacturing facility to boost production of eco-friendly products.
Since the Orlando startup made a major pivot this year, its client base has more than doubled. The key? A transition from making textiles out of seaweed to making chemicals out of seaweed.
The new manufacturing facility, set to open in early 2025, will increase production to keep up with ballooning client demand. Soarce plans to move into an existing 5,000-square-foot space, in addition to its two labs, and is working with Orlando Economic Partnership to identify the right site.
“We’d like to stay pretty close to Lake Nona, if possible. Our two labs are here, and we're probably going to convert them into quality control labs,” said Chief Operating Officer Mason Mincey. “So, let’s say after every 10 kilos of product made in the pilot facility, we're going to send a sample to the lab for quality control.”
A pilot plant is a production site that uses new technology to produce small volumes of new products. The facility foreshadows larger production operations in the future.
Mincey shared insights into changes at Soarce, the company’s commitment to green chemistry and the expected impact of this new facility.
What inspired Soarce to pivot?
Before pivoting to focus on chemistry, Soarce was primarily involved in the artisanal fashion sector, specifically luxury fashion. The problem was that Soarce could use 10% of our seaweed-based chemistries to make leather for the fashion industry. The process of making the leather was too time-consuming and complex, limiting the amount of product we could produce and use. So, 540 liters went unused per day.
A growing demand for greener chemical solutions opened doors for us in more industries, too. Now we have clients in furniture, apparel and artisanal paints.
Tell us more about your green chemistry approach.
We can use any biomass, but we specifically get our compounds from seaweed because it grows quickly, is incredibly abundant and is an invasive species on the Caribbean — which many governments support turning it into something. We've designed chemistries in-house that can break down the seaweed more efficiently than a lot of toxic and synthetic chemicals and also enhances the compounds in seaweed. Those compounds are used to make chemicals.
Can you give an example of a chemical you produce?
We make a fire-retardant product that can also block UV rays, protect dye colors and reflect infrared radiation to keep surfaces cooler. Hewlett Packard’s largest distributor uses our product. Because we're moving into the industrial realm, there are opportunities to reach a lot more industries.
How do you envision this new facility affecting your current operations and overall growth?
The facility is a game-changer for us. It’ll not only double our production capacity, but also allow us to explore new product lines. The goal is to set a new standard for manufacturing that benefits both the local community and the planet.
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