An image showcases a vibrant orange spray bottle labeled “Palmless” with its slogan. It rests on a lush grassy surface surrounded by tropical and colorful flowers. Credit: Courtesy of C16-Biosciences
C16 Biosciences, founded by alumni from MIT, has developed a microbial oil as a substitute for palm oil, which is known for its environmentally destructive production methods.
The aim of C16 Biosciences, established by MIT students David Heller, Shara Ticku, and Harry McNamara, is to provide a sustainable alternative to palm oil, which causes extensive deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions. By fermenting sugars with oil-producing yeast, they have created a product that addresses the ecological devastation associated with palm oil production. With the support of MIT funding initiatives, the company now produces metric tons of this oil and has launched a consumer cosmetic brand called Palmless.
Never underestimate the power of a tight deadline.
Back in 2016, as the deadline to present a final business plan approached for their class MAS.883 (Revolutionary Ventures: How to Invent and Deploy Transformative Technologies) at MIT, classmates David Heller ’18, Shara Ticku, and Harry McNamara PhD ’19 were searching for innovative solutions to address climate challenges using biology. After a few unsuccessful ideas, they decided to take a fresh approach.
During a brainstorming session, Ticku shared her experience of witnessing the smoky haze caused by forest fires during a trip to Singapore. This story reminded McNamara of the vast palm plantations he had seen in Costa Rica, where palm oil is harvested.
“Palm was a material that none of us had seriously considered,” recalls Heller. “But that conversation made us realize it was a significant industry with major issues in its production.”
This realization led the classmates to explore the use of synthetic biology to develop a sustainable alternative to palm oil, eventually giving birth to C16 Biosciences. Today, C16 is successfully fulfilling its mission by producing palm oil alternatives on a large scale. They achieve this by harvesting oil from yeast that ferments sugars, a process similar to beer brewing.
The company’s product, sold to personal care brands and directly to consumers, holds immense potential for enhancing the sustainability of the personal care and food industries. It turns out that the classmates had stumbled upon a massive problem.
Palm oil is the most widely used vegetable oil worldwide, finding its way into everything from soaps and cosmetics to sauces, rolls, and crackers. However, since palm trees that produce palm oil can only grow near the equator, producers often resort to burning tropical rainforests and swamps to make space for palm plantations. This destructive practice devastates wildlife habitats and contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions. Recent studies suggest that palm expansion in Southeast Asia alone could account for 0.75 percent of the world’s total greenhouse gas emissions, without even considering palm expansion in West Africa and South America. Among the creatures threatened by deforestation caused by palm oil production are orangutans, all three species of which are now classified as “critically endangered” on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, a global index of endangered species.
“Responding to the increasing demand over the past few decades, large palm producers have often resorted to inappropriate land seizure,” explains Heller. “They slash and burn tropical rainforests, displace indigenous communities, and eliminate local wildlife, replacing everything with extensive palm oil plantations. This land conversion process emits approximately a gigaton of CO2 per year, solely due to palm oil expansion.”
From mere milliliters to metric tons
Heller took the Revolutionary Ventures class during his junior year as one of the few undergraduate students in the Media Lab-based course, which was also open to students from nearby colleges. During one of the initial sessions, students were asked to share their passions and what drove them. Heller focused on climate technology.
McNamara, a PhD candidate in the Harvard-MIT Program in Health Sciences and Technology at the time, spoke about his interest in applying new technologies to global challenges in biotech and biophysics. Ticku, attending Harvard Business School, discussed her experience in fertility health and her passion for global health initiatives. The three decided to join forces.
“The core group is very, very passionate about using biology to solve major climate problems,” says Heller, who pursued a major in biological engineering at MIT.
Following a successful final presentation in the class, the founders secured some initial funding by participating in the MIT $100K Pitch Competition and receiving support from the MIT Sandbox Innovation Fund.
“MIT Sandbox was one of the first sources of financial support for us,” Heller recalls. “We also received invaluable mentorship and learned from other startups at MIT, establishing connections with professors who provided us with valuable insights.”
By the time Heller graduated in 2018, the team had experimented with different yeast strains and managed to produce a few milliliters of oil. Over time, they optimized and scaled up their process. Today, C16 Biosciences produces metric tons of oil in large 50,000-liter tanks and has launched their own consumer cosmetic brand, Palmless.
Heller explains that C16 created their own brand as a means to raise awareness about the harmful impact of palm oil and to demonstrate to larger companies their readiness for collaboration.
“While the oil palm tree is incredibly productive, it clashes with an essential element of our ecosystem: tropical rainforests,” Heller explains. “There is immense excitement surrounding microbial palm oil alternatives. Many brands face pressure from consumers and governments, who recognize the urgency of addressing climate change and demand changes that move away from the use of this highly destructive oil ingredient.”
Scaling through biology
C16’s initial offering, called Torula Oil, is a premium product compared to traditional palm oil. However, Heller points out that the current cost of palm oil fails to account for its environmental and societal impact. Additionally, C16 enjoys several advantages in its mission to disrupt the $60 billion palm oil industry. Improving the productivity of C16’s precision fermentation process is much easier than enhancing traditional agricultural practices. Furthermore, as C16 continues to grow, they expect their costs to decrease significantly.
“What excites us is the economies of scale we can achieve,” says Heller. “We can expand vertically using large stainless steel tanks, rather than expanding horizontally on land. This allows us to drive down costs by increasing infrastructure size and optimizing our strain. The timelines for improvement in a precision fermentation process are a fraction of those required in an agricultural context.”
Currently, C16 is focused on forming partnerships with major personal care brands and expects to announce significant deals in the coming months. Looking ahead, they also aim to replace palm oil in food products, although additional regulations mean this goal is still a few years away.
Through all their endeavors, C16 aims to shed light on the problems associated with the palm oil industry, which they believe are not fully appreciated despite palm oil’s pervasive presence in our society.
“We need to find ways to reduce our reliance on products derived from deforestation,” Heller emphasizes. “We put a lot of effort into educating people about the palm oil industry. While using a product with palm oil doesn’t necessarily mean you should stop using it, it’s crucial to understand the implications it has on the world.”
Table of Contents
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about sustainable alternative
What is C16 Biosciences?
C16 Biosciences is a company founded by MIT alumni that has developed a sustainable alternative to palm oil. They produce microbial oil through a fermentation process, aiming to address the environmental devastation caused by palm oil production.
How does C16 Biosciences’ microbial oil help the environment?
C16 Biosciences’ microbial oil serves as a substitute for palm oil, which is notorious for its destructive production methods. By using fermentation to produce oil from yeast, C16 Biosciences avoids the need for deforestation and reduces greenhouse gas emissions associated with palm oil production.
Why is palm oil production harmful?
Palm oil production often involves burning tropical rainforests and displacing indigenous communities to make way for palm plantations. This process destroys valuable wildlife habitats, contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions, and threatens the survival of endangered species such as orangutans.
What products use palm oil?
Palm oil is a commonly used vegetable oil found in various consumer products, including soaps, cosmetics, sauces, and food items like rolls and crackers.
How does C16 Biosciences’ product compare to traditional palm oil?
C16 Biosciences’ product, called Torula Oil, is a premium alternative to traditional palm oil. While it may have a higher cost, it offers significant environmental benefits by eliminating the destructive practices associated with palm oil production.
Is C16 Biosciences working with other companies?
Yes, C16 Biosciences aims to collaborate with large personal care brands to incorporate their microbial oil into their products. They are actively pursuing partnerships and expect to announce important deals in the near future.
Are there plans to replace palm oil in food products?
C16 Biosciences has long-term goals to replace palm oil in food products as well. However, due to additional regulations, this transition may take a few years to fully realize.
How does C16 Biosciences raise awareness about palm oil issues?
C16 Biosciences operates its own consumer cosmetic brand called Palmless. Through this brand, they aim to educate consumers about the negative impacts of palm oil and encourage the adoption of sustainable alternatives.
More about sustainable alternative
- C16 Biosciences Official Website
- MIT News Article: Saving the Rainforests: A Clean Alternative to One of the World’s Most Common Ingredients
- MIT Media Lab
- MIT $100K Entrepreneurship Competition
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
- Harvard Business School
- MIT Sandbox Innovation Fund
