RETRN Bio

We are so grateful to have been a part of Climate Week this year in NYC, showcasing RetrnBio’s mission to replace toxic, outdated plastics with biodegradable coatings for fiber packaging. It was an incredible experience meeting with industry leaders, policymakers, and environmental advocates to discuss how our sustainable solutions can drive impactful climate action and build a greener, more resilient future together.

Abigail Reyes is a dedicated Research and Development Scientist specializing in polymer processing. Originally from Southern California, Abigail earned her Bachelor’s in Chemistry with a minor in Sustainability Studies from the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC). It was during her time at UCSC that her passion for fiber science blossomed, inspiring her to pursue a Master’s degree in Fiber Science at Cornell University. At Cornell, Abigail conducts cutting-edge research in the lab of Dr. Juan P. Hinestroza, where she focuses on developing innovative biopolymer blended thin films with the potential to substitute traditional petroleum-based plastics. Her work merges her deep-rooted interests in chemistry, sustainable design, and environmental impact. Abigail’s dedication at RETRN Bio ensures that the next wave of materials will prioritize both performance and environment stewardship.

Advisor Spotlight: Hear from one of our mentors: Linda Dickerson Hartsock When Linda Hartsock, longtime advisor of RETRN Bio, was asked “Are there any particular values or approaches that stick out to you about RETRN Bio?”? She had this to say: “ The people Chris and RETRN Bio surround themselves with to support their path from concept to commercialization are top notch. It’s a solid team of subject matter and functional experts who are building a well-defined roadmap — exactly what a successful venture needs. I am so impressed by the vision, expertise and focus that Chris brings, and the depth of his team. They continue to impress me!"

Employee Spotlight: Kristin M. Kristin Mannion, Founder & COO of RETRN Bio, had a noteworthy journey to our company. With a background in business management from the University of Notre Dame and a minor in poverty studies, Kristin's career has been marked by her dedication to understanding and improving business processes. She started her career at GE Healthcare, where she gained invaluable experience across service, engineering, and operational teams. Kristin's time at GE, coupled with her time owning a consulting firm with a focus on small businesses, gave her a unique perspective on how software and business systems can drive impactful change. Kristin was drawn to work with RETRN Bio's proactive approach to bringing innovative science research to life in the world. Right from the beginning there was tremendous enthusiasm from customers who saw the potential in truly biodegradable plastic products. At RETRN Bio, Kristin finds fulfillment in contributing to a startup that is poised to make a significant difference in the world. She believes in the “You Only Live Once” spirit of the startup world, taking risks now to create lasting impacts. Looking ahead, Kristin is excited about the company's mission to bring lab innovations into the real world, creating sustainable, compostable plastics that meet global needs and environmental standards. Kristin’s Thoughts on Company Culture:? “It's really exciting every week! There are always new ideas popping up amongst the team, so really the? possibilities are endless and there's still a lot of room to just be creative and figure out places where we can have the most impact. I think we're flexible but also have high expectations for each other.”

We love our new look, thank you Agency 29! Your dedication to sustainability through creative designs reflects our values impeccably.

RETRN Bio, a company aiming to use agricultural waste to replace petroleum-based plastic liners, partnered with Juan P Hinestroza, Ph.D., the Rebecca Q. Morgan ’60 Professor of Fiber Science and Apparel Design and his students to refine how to upcycle agricultural waste streams and process them into biodegradable polymers. “RETRN Bio not only has a solid scientific background,” Hinestroza said, “but an unshakable commitment to provide real solutions to solve the massive problem of plastic pollution. “Working with them has been a great experience,” he said. “My students in the Department of Human Centered Design benefit by seeing how fiber science knowledge and skills can provide unique solutions to global challenges.” https://lnkd.in/eU8SsYXH

Introducing the next Cohort of Venture For ClimateTech. These 20 high-impact companies were selected from a pool of 327 applicants across the globe. The companies were selected based on their high-potential solutions and ability to bring innovations to scale. Each team in Cohort 4 will receive up to $50,000 in funding and hands-on support to ready their technologies for customers, pilot runs, and additional investment. Meet Cohort 4: Adena Power, Arbour Group LLC, Arculus Solutions, Inc., BladeBUG Limited, BladeX Technologies, Calectra, CO2L Technologies Inc., Cycleau, Freshean Corp, GarboCarbo, HeatPath Solutions, Helix Power Corporation, Perseus Materials, Plantaer, REEgen, RETRN Bio, SilisiumTech, Solid State Power LLC, SpadXTech, and Tereform. Read the full announcement through the link below. https://lnkd.in/guP6ufat NYSERDA, NextCorps, SecondMuse, Jack Baron, Jenny Leung, Scott Meyers, Devin Sandon, Cassie Schuttrumpf Schutrumpf. #Climatetech #climate #startups #entrepreneur #startupSupport

Congrats to?Christopher Thomas?and the?RETRN Bio?team on their new USDA Phase I SBIR grant. Great work by InteliSpark's?Michelle Fedun. Special thanks to?Nicholas Querques?and?The Research Foundation for SUNY?for supporting our work with RETRN Bio! #sustainability?#forestry?#usda?#sbir?#autm?#startupfunding