20th August 2025 – Australian researchers develop seafood-based biofoam amid national EPS phase-out. The Australian Bioplastics Innovation Hub (BIH) has partnered with the Perth-based biotechnology company Cass Materials to replace expanded polystyrene (EPS) seafood boxes with a fully biodegradable alternative made from wheat straw. Gary Cass, CEO at Cass Materials, tells Packaging Insights: “The aim of Cass Materials will be to produce biofoam seafood boxes at scale that have the same performance in light weight, strength, water repellency, and insulation qualities that can be a viable alternative to EPS packing.”

19th May 2025 – New fossil-FREE water-repellent fibres to replace plastics and hazardous chemicals for nonwoven textiles production. Cass Materials’ Sweden will partner with Celluhemp and Processum Biorefinery Cluster to develop fossil-FREE hydrophobic fibres. Using hemp hurd as the feedstock, the regenerated textile fibres will focus on nonwoven industries including – but not limited to – surgical face masks and medical gowns applications. The collaboration is made possible thanks to the Processum R&D Council and the project Bioeconomy Innovation Platform, financed by the EU regional development fund, Region Västernorrland, the municipalities of Örnsköldsvik, as well as RISE.

31st March 2022 – Using 0% toxic chemicals to dissolve the nanocellulose and proprietary breakthrough advanced fibre spinning technology, Kylarr fibres are the latest sustainable textile entering the fashion industry.

29th March 2022 – Cass Materials and Nancy Ballesteros of Treetops Colour Harmonies have teamed up to make a beanie from a blend of Kylarr fibres and ultra-fine Merino wool.

10th March 2022 – Green industries attracted Gary Cass from Australia. From a home lab in Perth, Australia to Örnsköldsvik, Sweden.

17th February 2022 – Cass Materials has taken another step with Kylarr fibres in the production of a next generation fashion textile.

17th April 2021 – Patent Status: Clear International Preliminary Report of Patentability (IPRP) issued. ‘Treatment of bacterial nanocellulose.’

28th July 2020 – A wonderful meeting with the WA Governor, The Honourable Kim Beazley about our new eco-tech materials focusing on the cell culture scaffolds for the cultivated meat industry.

16th July 2020 – Cass Materials has been accepted into the Startmate accelerator program. An amazing opportunity to help make Australia a leader in the global cultivated meat industry.

20th May 2020 – Cass Materials files Australian Provisional Patent Application No. 2020900276 entitled “Cellulose Dissolution.”