One Platform, Many Applications
Most chemical companies build a single product for a single market. CAGE is building a platform — a foundational chemistry approach that extends across industries.
The constant: food-grade amino acids replacing toxic incumbents. The variable: which amino acid, which co-reagent, and which application.
How It Works
Amino acids are nature's most versatile catalysts. Every living cell uses them to drive chemical reactions with extraordinary specificity. We're taking that same capability and applying it to industrial chemistry.
The key insight: different amino acids catalyze different types of reactions. By matching the right amino acid to the right industrial challenge, we can create green alternatives to toxic chemicals across a remarkable range of applications.
The Research Tracks
W.R.A.P. — Sustainable Coatings
Water-resistant, biodegradable coatings for packaging and textiles. Replacing PFAS and petroleum-based alternatives with amino acid-catalyzed wax formulations.
C.O.R.E. — Plastic Recycling
Chemical recycling of PLA and other bioplastics using amino acid catalysis. Converting post-consumer plastic back to high-value monomers without toxic catalysts.
W.A.R.P. — Textile Treatment
Durable, wash-resistant textile treatments that replace conventional finishing chemicals with food-grade alternatives.
Agricultural Applications
Bio-compatible crop protection and soil treatment using amino acid-based formulations.
Water Treatment
Amino acid-catalyzed processes for water purification and contaminant removal.
Why Platform Beats Product
A product company bets everything on one formulation for one market. If the market shifts or a competitor finds a better approach, you're done.
A platform company builds on a foundational capability that extends across markets. Each new application strengthens the platform — shared learnings, shared infrastructure, shared validation.
When we discover that L-histidine works as a catalyst for PLA recycling, that knowledge immediately informs our screening for textile applications. The platform gets smarter with every experiment.
The Open Advantage
Because our research is open, university labs around the world can explore applications we haven't gotten to yet. Every external validation strengthens the platform. Every published result expands the knowledge base.
This isn't just a business strategy — it's a fundamentally different way of doing chemistry R&D.