Mitsui Chemicals invests in AI bioplastics design firm; Univar Solutions acquires H.M. Royal to expand reach in US

Japanese firm Mitsui Chemicals has announced that it has undertaken a minority investment in Materia Bioworks Inc. The investment was made through 321Catalyst, Mitsui Chemicals' corporate venture capital (CVC) fund.

Materia Bioworks is a start-up that applies computational chemistry and AI to develop MAPS (Material Application Prediction System), a platform for designing and formulating sustainable materials such as bioplastics. It adds that the platform shortens the bioplastics development process, which has traditionally required significant time and cost, while also reducing the cost of bioplastics themselves.

MAPS formulates and designs bioplastics and other sustainable materials to meet target performance specifications such as thermal properties, mechanical properties, permeability, physical properties, etc., with AI suggesting optimal formulations and material designs.

It also conducts simulations of customer’s production lines using digital twins and provides advice on optimal manufacturing conditions to the customer, such as processing conditions as well as supporting companies in obtaining approvals for bioplastics in compliance with regulations in various countries by leveraging a proprietary database of biomaterials and biodegradable materials.

Mitsui Chemicals says itaims to expand its provision of bioplastic materials offering to customers globally as well as collaborate with Materia Bioworks to meet the performance and quality requirements of customers through the possible joint development of new bioplastic materials.

In other news, speciality chemicals firm Univar Solutions has acquired H.M. Royal, a 101-year-old specialty distributor of rubber, plastics, and adhesive additives. The addition of H.M. Royal strengthens the Performance Materials business within the Ingredients + Specialties from Univar Solutions division, expanding access to specialised products, technical knowledge, and long-standing customer relationships, particularly on the East and West Coasts, where H.M. Royal has a strong presence.

As the organisations come together, H.M. Royal customers will gain access to Univar Solutions’ broader scale, logistics network, and digital tools, while continuing to benefit from the technical expertise and trusted relationships that have been central to H.M. Royal’s success.

The combined organisation is expected to deliver broader product access, extended technical support, and greater supply continuity for customers and supplier partners, building on both companies’ century-plus legacy of service and expertise.

“H.M. Royal has long been a trusted partner in the rubber, plastics adhesives, sealants, and protective coatings spaces, and this marks an important step forward for our Performance Materials business,” said Matthew Oliver, Senior Vice President of Performance Materials for Univar Solutions. “This combination allows us to create a more connected platform in rubber and plastics, strengthen collaboration, and open new opportunities for growth across the value chain. We are committed to preserving and building on the technical knowledge, supplier relationships, and market focus that have made H.M. Royal successful, especially in applications where consistency, processing performance, and reliable supply matter most.”

Terms were not disclosed.

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