Roux Institute launches Climate Tech Incubator; pThird Earth demonstrates ocean‑compostable, fish‑friendly packaging

Tara Dunham of Northeastern University’s Roux Institute told MXG that the Roux Institute launched a Climate Tech Incubator last September to support climate‑tech startups with physical workspace, mentors, faculty, and industry advisors.

Dunham said the incubator hosts roughly 18 member organizations spanning food and ag tech, building optimization, carbon removal and other climate technologies, and that membership is reviewed on a rolling basis as space allows rather than as a time‑bound cohort. She described the incubator’s offerings as physical workspace, experts‑in‑residence, an advisory committee and ecosystem partnerships to help startups scale in Maine.

Ariadne Dumois, CEO of pThird Earth and an incubator member, presented her company’s work on wood‑based cellulose microfibril packaging (branded in the talk as “Eley”). Dumois described the product as retaining the “plastic feel and performance” while being paper‑stream recyclable and backyard compostable; she said pThird Earth is developing a methodology to verify that the material is also ocean‑compostable and “fish friendly.” Dumois said the company incorporated in 2019 and has received bridge funding and support from MTI and National Science Foundation SBIR awards.

Dumois raised concerns about PFAS and some bioplastics, saying those responses do not always solve end‑of‑life pollution. She urged partners and manufacturers to test materials and collaborate on validation of compostability and aquatic impacts. Dunham said incubator applications are accepted on a rolling basis and she posted contact information in the meeting chat for interested companies. A Startup Maine/Climate Tech networking event was also noted on the chat calendar.