Success Story _ FloraMaterials

Flora Materials | Carbondale, CO

Flora Materials is a woman-owned, biomaterials company revolutionizing the construction industry with sustainable, bio-based building materials that prioritize people and the planet. Founded in 2023, Flora Materials is the research and biomaterials development lab within West 40 Studio, a full-service architecture and design firm in Carbondale. This partnership bridges the gap between design and innovation, bringing together materials scientists, engineers, and visionary designers to advance sustainability in architecture and construction.

Flora Materials founder, Natalie York first discovered the Boulder SBDC in 2021 at an event in Vail. Two years later she was encouraged to apply for the TechVenture Accelerator for Women (TVX) with the statewide TechSource program. Natalie credits the this program with the confidence to move forward with her algae-based flooring solution.

The company’s novel approach replaces polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a petroleum-derived material, with an algae-based polyurethane composite that significantly reduces carbon emissions. In addition to helping the Army achieve its 50% greenhouse gas reduction goals, Flora’s algae-based building materials also offers transformative benefits for the broader construction industry. It is estimated that the production of PVC used in traditional flooring materials contributes upwards of 10 million tons of CO2 annually. By improving recyclability, minimizing waste, and leveraging algae’s carbon-capturing abilities, Flora’s building materials could have a drastic impact on lowering the construction industry’s carbon footprint.

Flora was awarded a Phase I Small Business Innovation Research in 2023 with the U.S. Army for $250,000 for an algae-based composite flooring solution. Flora recently was awarded a Phase II contract with an additional $1.9 million in funding to develop prototype solutions targeted toward construction and other Army sustainability requirements. With flooring as its initial focus, Flora is poised to expand its product line and revolutionize the entire construction industry.

For more information, visit Flora Materials. 

“I’ve used other services through SBDC, specifically accounting advice on how to manage my SBIR. Everyone I’ve reached out to working at SBDC has been so helpful and supportive and wants me to succeed as a small business here in Colorado.”

Natalie York, Owner