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Origin Materials, Inc.
Origin Materials co-led by Rich Riley and John Bissell, a public company (NASDAQ: ORGN) producing carbon-negative materials from biomass.
Origin Materials, Inc.
Origin Materials was founded in 2008 by John Bissell, Ryan Smith, and others to develop a platform technology that converts sustainable biomass (e.g., wood chips) into carbon-negative chemicals and materials. The company went public in 2021 via a SPAC merger with Artius Acquisition Inc., raising approximately $363 million in gross proceeds. Bissell serves as Co-CEO alongside Rich Riley, former CEO of Shazam; Smith is Chief Technology Officer. The underlying wealth is corporate rather than dynastic, with no disclosed family-office affiliation. The firm's core technology focuses on hydrothermal carbonization to produce chloromethylfurfural (CMF), a building block for polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles, carbon black, and other commodity chemicals. Origin Materials targets markets including packaging, textiles, tires, and automotive components. Key partnerships include a 2022 joint development agreement with Ford to test carbon-negative tires and a 2023 supply agreement with Danone for PET bottle caps. The geographic footprint spans North America, with its pilot plant in Ontario, Canada, and a planned commercial facility known as "Origin 1" in Ascension Parish, Louisiana. The company employs roughly 200 people and has raised over $600 million in equity and debt since inception, including the SPAC proceeds and a $75 million loan from the U.S. Department of Energy in 2023. Origin Materials operates a philanthropic arm, the Origin Materials Foundation, which supports climate-focused education and reforestation. In October 2024, the firm announced it had begun commissioning its Origin 1 plant, targeting commercial production in early 2025 (per company press release, October 2024). Origin Materials' structural differentiator is its direct-to-polymer chemistry platform, which claims to produce carbon-negative intermediates that can be dropped into existing manufacturing supply chains. This approach avoids the need for novel infrastructure, unlike many other carbon-capture or bio-based material companies. The firm's public-company structure subjects it to quarterly earnings scrutiny, a governance model distinct from typical private family offices or venture-backed startups.
General information
Firm type
Asset Manager
Year founded
2008
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
West Sacramento
Corporate office
West Sacramento, CA, United States
Principals
John Bissell
Co-Founder & Co-CEO
Rich Riley
Co-CEO
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who leads investment decisions at Origin Materials?
Origin Materials is led by Co-CEOs Rich Riley and John Bissell, who jointly oversee strategy and capital allocation. The company's board of directors, which includes investors like Artius Acquisition, provides governance. Bissell, a co-founder, drives technology and operations, while Riley focuses on commercial partnerships and market strategy.
How does Origin Materials generate revenue?
Origin Materials generates revenue through the sale of carbon-negative chemical intermediates, primarily chloromethylfurfural (CMF), which is converted into PET resin and other products. The company has signed long-term offtake agreements with partners like Danone and Ford, and it receives grants and loans from government entities such as the U.S. Department of Energy.
Is Origin Materials a family office or a public company?
Origin Materials is a publicly traded corporation (NASDAQ: ORGN) and not a family office. It went public in 2021 via a SPAC merger. However, co-founder John Bissell and early investors may hold significant stakes, and the firm's technology platform has attracted family office investors in its pre-IPO rounds, though no single family office controls it.
What sectors does Origin Materials exclude from its strategy?
Origin Materials focuses on renewable chemicals and materials, avoiding investments in fossil fuel production, defense, and traditional petrochemical sectors. Its technology is designed to address climate change by replacing petroleum-based inputs in plastics, rubber, and packaging, making industries like coal, oil, and gas outside its mandate.
How does Origin Materials source its raw materials?
Origin Materials uses sustainably sourced wood residues—such as sawdust, wood chips, and forest thinnings—that are not suitable for lumber or paper. The firm's biomass supply chain relies on partnerships with forestry companies and waste management providers in Canada and the U.S. Gulf region.
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