Munich Startup: What does your startup do? What problem do you solve?
Protegg: For us, everything revolves around two things: green innovation and recyclability! Protegg is focused on transforming the unused industrial waste materials egg membrane and eggshell into the innovative, standardized raw materials ESM (eggshell membrane) and calcium carbonate/lime.
Protegg is the first company in the world to produce bioplastics from ESM. These can not only replace petroleum-based plastics, but also serve as a carrier material for technical applications in the field of sensor technology. Using these special carrier material properties, Protegg has, for example, developed the world's first physical DNA token.
The unique capabilities of the patent-pending Protegg bioplastic allow for the functional integration of synthetic DNA with defined information into this bioplastic. The result is an unforgeable DNA token that can protect the information stored within it for over 100 years, keep it readable, and integrate it into any type of product. Other sensors are also currently under development, primarily in the areas of water and soil analysis.
Furthermore, Protegg offers a sustainable alternative to commercial lime. The biogenic calcium carbonate we extract from the shell can be used in various areas, such as fertilizer, plastic filler, the construction industry, the cosmetics industry, and the food industry.
Why all this? We want to recycle invested energy, transform waste materials into high-quality raw materials, and thus actively promote the topic of circularity and impact.
Egg residues largely unused
Munich Startup: But that's been around for a long time!
Protegg: In fact, the mass residue eggshell and eggshell membrane is currently not treated in accordance with Circular economy However, some research has shown that these waste materials have enormous potential. Currently, there are no companies that convert this bulk waste into standardized raw materials and produce innovative products from it. This is despite the fact that eggs are produced all over the world!
Munich Startup: What is your founding story?
Protegg: The project began back in 2018. One of Protegg's founders, Fabian, identified the unused waste material and began conducting initial experimental material tests in his kitchen. His focus was particularly on eggshell membranes, a highly interesting protein mixture with unique material properties. With promising material developments under his belt, Fabian met Markus, Protegg's second founder, in 2020. Fabian's creative and inventive strengths and Markus's strategic and entrepreneurial strengths worked together from the very beginning and now form the foundation of the company.
Together, Fabian and Markus built a strong network in all relevant areas, won their first prize in 2021 at PlanB – Biobasiert in Straubing, began collaborating with the Fraunhofer Institute IGB, and finally founded Protegg GmbH in April 2022. The first pilot plant is already in operation at our partner in the egg processing industry, where the waste is transformed into standardized raw materials and made available for the market.
Munich Startup: What have been your biggest challenges so far?
Protegg: We have set ourselves a very significant challenge by introducing new raw materials to the raw materials market. ESM is a completely new raw material, and bioplastics made from ESM are a world first. We must first convince stakeholders from all sectors to try out and use innovative raw materials and applications. Often, especially in large companies, habits and quirks have crept in that do not provide an optimal basis for innovation and technological openness. We are continuously working to demonstrate that our material and our company can at least keep up with the status quo, both technically and strategically, and we look forward to welcoming the first "courageous" stakeholders who want to take advantage of the fantastic benefits of new, recyclable materials.
Munich Startup: Where would you like to be in one year, where in five years?
Protegg: Within a year, we plan to have various separation plants in Germany and Central Europe. We will distribute the resulting biogenic lime to interested companies in the filler and building materials industries.
We develop our innovative products, such as the DNA Token for brand protection, with one or more pilot partners based on the differently defined needs of the companies and distribute initial small series.
Our other sensors, which are currently being developed in 2023, are already finding their first applications and are enabling the substitution of traditional plastic in the sensor industry.
Within five years, we aim to implement our newly developed separation process in all German egg processing industries and to continue growing in Europe to capture as much of the unused waste in Germany as possible. After successfully establishing our separation technology in Germany, the next logical step for us is to expand into countries outside of Europe where the waste volumes are many times higher.
With regard to the development of products made from eggshell membrane, we aim to bring additional sustainable biosensors to market within five years. In addition, the first pilot customers will be equipped with the newly developed food packaging made from eggshell membrane, not only to bring innovative products made from this raw material to market but also to replace petroleum-based mass-produced products.
12,000 tons of waste that can be converted daily
Munich Startup: How have you experienced Munich as a startup location so far?
Protegg: We've actually experienced relatively little in Munich so far, but we'd like to become more involved in local projects and networking events in the future. We've been well integrated into networks around the Biocampus in Straubing and the TGZ for some time now. Straubing has been developing rapidly in the field of bioeconomy startups for several years. Perhaps the two locations can be effectively combined; that would certainly be a win-win for everyone involved.
Munich Startup: Hidden champion or shooting star?
Protegg: Hidden Champion! Our goal is to utilize the world's mass waste of eggshells and eggshell membranes using our technology. 3.8 billion eggs are produced worldwide every day, of which 1.2 billion are processed industrially. This means that 12,000 tons of waste are generated every day. Converting this waste into usable raw materials is the path to a resource-efficient future!
