by Sara Fedele, Senior Manager, PR and Communications at Kickstart Innovation
In the coming weeks, as part of our 11-week program, we’ll be showcasing the journeys of several participants from Kickstart’s program. Today, we’re highlighting Made of Air, a Berlin-based climate tech company founded in 2016 by CEO Allison Dring and CTO Daniel Schwaag. The company specializes in carbon-negative thermoplastics, transforming waste biomass into materials that sequester CO₂ and reverse climate change. Made of Air’s mission is to decarbonize supply chains, integrate carbon sinks into everyday products, and support a net-zero economy. With €5 million in seed funding, the company is scaling its operations to expand production and innovate further in the fight against climate change.
In this interview with Allison Dring, we will explore the milestones and future plans of this forward-looking company, uncovering how their vision is shaping a sustainable future.
What was the initial inspiration behind founding Made of Air?
Fifteen years ago, my co-founder, Daniel Schwaag, and I started exploring how materials could actively improve air quality in urban spaces. We saw a disconnect between climate tech and the built environment. Our first company tackled this gap with a technology that used photocatalytic coatings to break down pollutants on building façades. However, when we dug deeper, we saw that many of the materials we were working with had high carbon footprints, which meant our solution wasn’t as sustainable as we’d hoped.
My co-founder and I realized we needed to shift our focus to the materials themselves. We asked, “What if the materials used to build our cities could actually sequester carbon instead of emitting it?” We launched Made of Air to answer that question. We developed a carbon-negative material made from wood waste. The waste we use is already abundantly available, but it’s mostly just left to decompose, or it’s incinerated. In both cases it re-releases its CO2 content. By transforming this waste through pyrolysis, we lock in its CO₂ content and create a sustainable alternative to conventional fillers.
Made of Air’s carbon-negative materials are designed to replace fossil-based plastics. From an industry-wide perspective, what do you see as the main challenges in shifting from conventional materials to sustainable alternatives at scale?
One of the biggest challenges is the inertia of traditional industries. Established standards and deeply ingrained practices mean that innovation can be slow to take hold. For sustainable materials to gain traction, we need stronger partnerships across the supply chain, and manufacturers and startups need to work hand-in-hand. Without this collaboration, it’s easy for sustainable innovations to get lost in a process that favors the familiar.
Companies need clear (financial) benefits to embrace sustainable materials. In many cases, they lack the motivation to adapt to climate-friendly alternatives because the business incentives just aren’t there. We need to shift this dynamic, and encourage suppliers to see the competitive advantage in adopting sustainable materials.
Finally, modernizing industry specifications and encouraging experimentation are also essential. When we update standards and open the door for new materials, we not only advance sustainable solutions but create an industry environment more in line with today’s environmental responsibilities.
Collaborations with brands like H&M and Audi have brought visibility to Made of Air’s materials. How have these partnerships shaped the company’s journey, and what impact do you think they have on advancing sustainable practices in manufacturing?
Our partnerships also created real impact. For instance, the Audi dealership project in Trudering, which used 7 tons of our material, sequestered 14 tons of CO₂ and replaced aluminum to prevent an additional 77 tons of emissions. These measurable impacts give sustainable solutions tangible credibility.
These results and collaborations also drive a cultural shift in manufacturing, showing that sustainability can be central to large-scale projects. It’s encouraging to see life-cycle assessments and carbon footprints now embedded in corporate decision-making. This is a change that wasn’t common when we started. These partnerships validate our work and help accelerate the industry-wide transition towards sustainable materials, moving sustainability from a niche goal to a standard practice.
Scaling from pilot to full-scale production is often complex. What insights have you gained from scaling Made of Air’s biocarbon technology? What are the technical and logistical obstacles that you think the industry as a whole must overcome?
Scaling our biocarbon technology has shown us that real-life innovation requires an iterative, collaborative approach. Something traditional manufacturing doesn’t always accommodate. Often, startups get just one shot to test materials on production lines, with little opportunity to adjust settings or learn from detailed feedback. But taking a material from lab to full-scale production involves navigating countless variables, from equipment differences to the sheer complexity of scaling. Expecting perfect results on a first pass is unrealistic and limits the potential of emerging technologies.
For the industry to overcome these obstacles, we need a shift toward extended trial periods and open, detailed feedback loops. This would allow startups to make necessary adjustments and troubleshoot effectively. Collaboration with manufacturers, allowing for multiple rounds of testing with various equipment, would lead to better outcomes. While this requires more effort, it’s essential to bringing transformative materials like ours into mainstream production successfully.
Looking forward, what are Made of Air’s goals in terms of industry impact? How do you see your work influencing the material sciences and sustainability landscapes over the next five to ten years?
Our mission at Made of Air is to reverse climate change by addressing carbon emissions at the supply chain level, where decisions on materials can have far-reaching effects. One focus area we have is the built environment. This industry alone contributes 39% of global carbon emissions, so if we can help decision-makers choose carbon-negative options early on, we can meaningfully reduce the carbon footprint of entire projects.
When we started, sustainability wasn’t a priority for most companies. Decisions were often based purely on cost and functionality, without any discussion of carbon footprint or lifecycle impact. Now, with shifting regulations and a growing cultural awareness of sustainability, companies are recognizing the importance of materials that align with carbon reduction targets.
We want our impact to be measurable. For example, our work on Audi’s car dealership façade permanently removed 10 tons of CO₂ at no additional cost. That’s the model we’re working to scale across industries.
For those entering the sustainability space, the path can be challenging.
What advice would you offer to innovators and startups aiming to make a significant impact in environmental technology? Are there common pitfalls or insights you think are valuable for those getting started?
For anyone entering the sustainability space, resilience and collaboration are key. Scaling new technologies is challenging. Expect complexities and know that success often requires multiple attempts, adjustments, and close partnerships with manufacturers. Don’t let these challenges discourage you, instead, use them to deepen your understanding of the industry and build stronger relationships.
Stay connected with other startups in the climate sector. There’s a real sense of fellowship and shared mission here, and other founders have invaluable insights that can save you time and resources. The journey might be tough, but remember that you’re part of a community working toward a common goal.
About Allison Dring
Allison Dring is CEO and Co-Founder of Made of Air, a company that produces carbon negative materials to actively reverse climate change. Made of Air was named the Falling Walls Science Start Up Breakthrough of the Year and 2024 World Economic Forum Tech Pioneer. Allison is an experienced entrepreneur, initiating climate positive technologies and applying them to real world building applications. She is the 2022 recipient of AmCham Germany’s Female Founder Award.
Previously, as Founder of Elegant Embellishments, she co-invented and manufactured proslve370e, an award winning building product that reduces urban air pollution using only sunlight. She is a veteran speaker on topics involving technology and the environment, including a foundational TEDx Berlin talk entitled "Ornament & Climate", which launched the idea of storing atmospheric carbon in buildings. She is an Unreasonable Group Fellow, a BMW Foundation Responsible Leader, and Advisory Board Member for the Falling Walls Foundation.
About Made of Air
Made of Air is a Berlin-based climate tech company founded in 2016 by CEO Allison Dring and CTO Daniel Schwaag. The company specializes in producing carbon-negative thermoplastics by transforming waste biomass into materials that sequester CO₂, actively contributing to reversing climate change. Their proprietary technology processes biomass waste through pyrolysis, converting it into biochar. This biochar is then functionalized into a carbon-negative industrial filler, which can be integrated into various materials, effectively sequestering carbon dioxide. Made of Air’s materials have been utilized in collaborations with industry leaders such as Audi and H&M. For instance, they provided façade panels for Audi’s flagship dealership, showcasing the practical application of their carbon-negative materials in the built environment. By integrating their materials into products across mobility, consumer goods, and the built environment, Made of Air is actively contributing to the decarbonization of supply chains and the creation of a net-zero economy
If you are a startup active in smart cities and deep tech, or interested in collaboration with corporates such as AXA, you can learn more about our program and pre-register.
Photo credit Joerg Krauthoefer and Made of Air
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