On June 7, 2022, Will & Co., a European distributor of raw materials and chemicals, announced a strategic collaboration with Checkerspot, a materials innovator to develop sustainable high-performance polyurethane materials using the unique structural oils of microalgae combination. Through this collaboration, Will & Co. and Checkerspot will jointly offer European partners a portfolio of high-performance polyurethane materials with a high bio-based composition and attractive sustainability.


Checkerspot is a design-focused materials company focused on expanding the "palette" of materials science, applying more diverse renewable and sustainable building blocks to material formulations with better physical properties. The ability to design for performance is a key advantage of using these new materials. Checkerspot's initial set of microalgae-derived cast polyurethanes and foams have already demonstrated performance benefits in award-winning backcountry skis sold through Checkerspot's outdoor brand, WNDR' Alpine. Checkerspot's ability to formulate and work closely with customers to integrate its materials into their systems has enabled the nation's largest ski manufacturer to adopt new technologies.

Will & Co. has nearly a century of experience in the raw materials and chemicals industry and is committed to market and application development of bio-based molecules across all market segments. Will & Co. advises innovators and manufacturers on high-quality raw materials and works closely with customers to improve and develop products. Will has a deep history of partnering with companies in the polyurethane industry, focusing on the fundamental building blocks in polyurethane formulations, with the goal of bringing new sustainable chemistry to customers.

Jacques van Lindonk, Managing Director of Will & Co, said: “We are very pleased to be working with Checkerspot, a company at the forefront of developing sustainable performance materials. Climate change is real and industry players are studying how Reduce their carbon footprint without sacrificing performance. Companies are demanding more sustainably sourced key building blocks for material innovation. Checkerspot is producing and developing a new portfolio of microalgae-based polyurethane materials that can target a wide range of applications Fine-tune it, and it can bring huge benefits to our planet."

Matt Engler, Senior Director of Business Development at Checkerspot, said: "We look forward to working closely with Will & Co. We are delighted to offer our materials to Europe and look forward to working with all who want to be better at innovation. We strongly believe in network effects the power of putting these new biomanufacturing materials into the hands of companies and innovators who will conceive the next world-changing products as we enter a post-oil future."