Balena, the material science company known for pioneering some of the most advanced circular thermoplastics on the market, has announced a breakthrough in sustainable sports equipment: the world’s first frisbee made from bacteria-fermented bioplastic.
Crafted from Balena’s proprietary BioCir® X material, the frisbee is engineered for high-impact use, offering exceptional durability, flexural strength, and biodegradability across compost, soil, and marine environments. This is not a conceptual prototype—this is a fully realised performance-grade product, built to meet the rigorous demands of real-world play while maintaining full end-of-life circularity.
The launch marks Balena’s first official entry into the performance sports sector, a move that signals a broader push to replace conventional plastics with biobased, scalable solutions. The frisbee will be available for brand partnerships starting in August, with early interest already confirmed from major sports and lifestyle brands. Balena is now actively inviting partners to collaborate in bringing sustainable innovation into play.
BioCir® X is a high-performance biopolymer developed to challenge the notion that sustainability must come at the cost of functionality. The material is impact-resistant, designed to maintain its shape and performance even after repeated use. It’s also independently tested to biodegrade effectively across multiple environments, addressing one of the biggest environmental pain points of sports gear today: long-term plastic waste.
With the global disc market projected to reach $688 million by 2031 and grow at a rate of 15.6%, the opportunity—and the responsibility—to drive sustainable change is growing fast. Traditional frisbees made from petroleum-based plastics can persist in landfills and oceans for centuries. With only 9% of plastic waste being recycled globally, Balena’s compostable solution offers a meaningful alternative that aligns with the circular economy.
“Breaking into the sports industry with a product that’s both high-performance and fully circular is a proud moment for us at Balena,” said David Roubach, Founder & CEO. “This frisbee, made from our bacteria-fermented bioplastic, is proof that sustainable materials can go beyond concepts and prototypes, they can play, perform, and inspire. It’s a small object with a big message: sustainable materials can meet the demands of real-world performance without leaving a trace.”
While sports gear is the initial application, Balena’s vision extends far beyond. The company is continuing to scale its BioCir® material portfolio for use across outdoor gear, athletic equipment, and other high-impact consumer products—offering brands a route to genuine circularity without compromising on performance, design, or usability.
With the frisbee’s commercial rollout set for August, Balena is poised to reshape how sustainability is perceived in the performance product market—proving that innovation in materials can drive innovation in entire industries.
