BC Business
startup name: Solegear Bioplastics Inc.
founded: 2006
number of employees: 9
lead product: Polysole, a high-performance plastic made entirely from plants that’s 100 per cent non-toxic and compostable.
milestone: North American Award for New Product Innovation of the Year by Frost & Sullivan in 2010.
The world needs this product because: “It breaks down into soil, water and carbon dioxide. Where plastics pile up in the environment, there’s great opportunity for Polysole,” says founder and CEO Toby Reid.