Startup offers cleaner activated carbon without coal use

This article is a part of Startup Spotlight, a series that features young, up-and-coming startups.

Image credit: Timmy Loen

Bygen began in a lab at the University of Adelaide. While researching activated carbon, the team realized traditional production methods were too energy-intensive. Founder Lewis Dunnigan and his colleagues brainstormed cleaner alternatives, eventually developing a low-temperature technology using renewable biomass.

😟 Problem

Activated carbon is essential for water filtration, yet most production relies on coal. This process generates 8–10 tonnes of CO2 per tonne of product. Simultaneously, water utilities face strict new PFAS limits in the US, EU, and Australia, demanding higher filtration capacity without increasing carbon footprints.

💡 Solution

The company manufactures activated carbon from nut shells and wood using a patented low-temperature process. This method creates a significantly lower life-cycle carbon footprint and reduces production costs by up to 60%.

The resulting carbon works as a drop-in replacement for existing filtration systems, requiring no infrastructure retrofitting.

Activated carbon / Image credit: Bygen

📊 Market size

The global activated carbon market is a multi-billion-dollar industry driven by recurring demand. A single industrial site or water utility can use anywhere from tens to hundreds of tonnes annually. Tightening environmental standards in the US, EU, and Australia are accelerating the shift toward sustainable filtration materials.

🤝 Team

• Lewis Dunnigan (CEO/founder) holds a PhD in chemical engineering. He developed the core technology.
• Cameron Griffiths (CCO) served as a global sales leader at SUEZ and GE Water. He leads commercial development with deep industry expertise.

🚀 Traction

• Generated US$4.5 million in revenue with targets to reach US$10 million next year.
• Scaling production capacity to 8,000 tonnes annually by next year.
• Secured off-take agreements with major companies.
• Semi-finalist in the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation’s startup contest, EPIC 2025.
• Construction projects are currently underway in multiple countries, including the US and Malaysia.

🏆 Competition

Incumbents like Cabot, Calgon Carbon, and Haycarb dominate with high-temperature, coal-based production. Bygen differentiates by using renewable feedstocks and energy-efficient processing. This approach lowers costs and carbon impact while matching the adsorption performance required for PFAS and odor removal.

💰 Financials

• Bygen sells production plants to end-users and collects an approximate 15% royalty on gross activated carbon sales.
• Has raised around US$5 million from investors including Artesian, Investible, and Breakthrough Victoria.
• Planning a US$10 million Series A raise in 2026.

This piece was written with AI. A human editor reviews it before publishing. All information is provided by the startup.