In an era where sustainability and waste reduction are more urgent than ever, Brittanie Dabney is leading the charge with her Detroit startup, Ecosphere Organics.
With a background in environmental science and toxicology, Dabney’s journey began by studying the harmful contaminants in Michigan’s microplastics and drinking water. This research sparked a fundamental question: If pollution is so harmful, what are the alternatives? Could biodegradable, sustainable materials replace the plastics and pollutants harming the planet?
From an early age, Dabney knew she wanted to be an entrepreneur. However, she initially envisioned a career in environmental consulting rather than running a company. Over time, her vision evolved—shifting from research and development to large-scale impact. She didn’t just want to create biodegradable materials; she wanted to develop a scalable, sustainable manufacturing process to reshape industries from the ground up.
BRITTANIE DABNEY
Enter Ecosphere Organics.
Ecosphere Organics emerged from her previous work with a Biomaterials Lab startup after Dabney and her partner won the sustainability pitch competition at Wayne State University. As she deepened her focus, she later launched Ecosphere Organics at Newlab at Michigan Central, with a broader mission – scaling the use of organic waste.
Each year, the U.S. wastes nearly $230 billion worth of food, much of which ends up in landfills, contributing to climate issues and water contamination. “So much environmental damage comes from simply not doing anything with food waste,” Dabney says.
Ecosphere Organics offers a dual-pronged approach to solving this issue. First, they help businesses like restaurants and grocery stores manage their waste streams by developing onsite waste-processing equipment. Second, they convert organic waste into sustainable materials that can be used in everyday products—turning discarded food into value.
The company is already making an impact in Detroit’s sustainability scene, working with local businesses to create circular product solutions. One recent project is a pilot program with Alchemi and Johnny’s Speakeasy in Royal Oak, where they collect citrus waste and turn it into biodegradable coasters.
“We take a portion of their waste stream and convert it into useful products for them,” Dabney says.
Ecosphere Organics was also part of the Toyota Mobility Foundation’s Sustainable Cities Challenge. The company developed solutions to reduce emissions at Eastern Market by processing food waste on-site, reducing the amount of trash that needs to be transported.
The startup has also collaborated with Folk Detroit, collecting used coffee grounds to create durable, biodegradable materials during their Waste to Wonder Initiative and a micro-mobility pilot in partnerships with Orange Sparkle Ball and Intermode.
But Dabney is not just interested in waste reduction – she’s driven to create a sustainable supply chain. The company is working to establish itself as a go-to resource for manufacturers looking to integrate sustainable materials into their products.
REFINED RAW MATERIALS
“We mine and harvest food waste from urban farms, restaurants, and other sources, converting it into raw materials,” Dabney explains. These materials can be used to create bioplastics, fertilizers, and alternative materials for industries ranging from fashion to automotive.
Dabney has explored the potential of banana peels as a leather alternative and citrus peels for bioplastics. Their Waste to Wonder initiative, part of Detroit’s Month of Design, turned organic waste into pigments for artists, proving that waste materials can fuel creativity and innovation.
Beyond their own products, Ecosphere Organics supplies raw sustainable materials to manufacturers looking to develop their own products. “For example, a plastics company may want to make its products more sustainable so it can purchase our materials and integrate them into its manufacturing process,” says Dabney.
Scaling a sustainable materials business comes with its challenges – first among them, expanding their facilities as new startup.
“A lot of people want to do something good with their waste, and demand is high,” Dabney says. “Right now, our biggest challenge is having the capacity to take it all on.”
Despite these challenges, she says the opportunities in organic waste innovation are immense. Unlike plastics, which are engineered for specific use cases, organic materials offer wider-ranging possibilities across industries.
BRANDED COASTERS MADE FROM GRAPEFRUIT PEELS
One of Dabney’s developments that’s in progress is a modular waste-processing unit, a piece of equipment designed for on-site refining of food waste into raw materials. “This will allow businesses—small restaurants, markets, and farmers—to process waste at the source,” Dabney explains. “This decentralized approach is exactly where the industry is headed.”
Ecosphere Organics is still in its early stages, but Dabney envisions a future where Michigan becomes a leader in sustainable manufacturing. “Michigan has always been known for manufacturing—not just in the auto industry,” she says. “As we transition to a bioeconomy, I think Ecosphere Organics will be leaders in this space, and help other Michigan companies get off the ground.”
She says is optimistic about the potential for job creation in green technology as well.
In the next five years, Dabney sees Ecosphere Organics expanding into larger facilities, scaling up waste-to-materials manufacturing, and helping companies design eco-friendly products from the ground up.
Her focus remains on refining the modular waste-processing unit and expanding their library of sustainable material recipes. Long-term partnerships with farmers, restaurants, grocery stores, and entire cities are also on the horizon.
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