Startup Orange Parrot supported by GT4T in protecting their technology through IP

What if facades and roofs not only provided protection, but also actively contribute to a cooler and more pleasant living environment? Orange Parrot*), a startup collaborating with regional incubator ZWINC and Windesheim University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands, is developing an innovative heat-reflective tile for facades and roofs: a sustainable alternative to traditional building materials. It is a solution that keeps buildings noticeably cooler and addresses the growing challenge of urban heat.

With support from the GT4T project, the startup took an important step in protecting its technology by initiating its intellectual property (IP) process. This gives the company not only the opportunity to better protect its innovation, but also lays the foundation for further market introduction and growth. Contributing to Europe’s green transformation, one step at a time.

Smart and good for the next generation
Orange Parrot is a startup founded by two chemists with more than 40 years of combined experience, who are dedicated to developing materials for a better world. Their mission? To create material innovations that are smart, but above all good enough for the next generation. "We want to develop products the way our children deserve them," say founders Michel Tichelaar and Alwin Papegaaij.
They work on smart material innovations, such as wool socks without hidden nylon, carpets made with bio-based fibers, and coatings that require less energy during production. They bring these innovations to market, after which companies can apply them in their own production processes.
At the same time, they are developing their own concepts. Products such as cooling facade tiles or a PFAS-free raincoat originate within Orange Parrot and, once sufficiently mature, can grow into spin-off companies together with a partner. "We develop the innovation, and together with partners or co-founders, we scale it up."

Innovations that close the loop
What drives Orange Parrot goes beyond technology. The Orange Parrot emerges whenever a more sustainable option for a product can be explored. That means bio-based instead of petrochemical, biodegradable or even compostable where possible, and free from harmful substances such as PFAS. It means materials that can be neatly separated or reused after use, and products that are so durable that they last for years. Not disposable fashion or fast solutions, but innovations that close the loop.

PFAS-Free Raincoat: From Dream to Reality
The company prefers to focus on one innovation that truly transforms the market in a positive way rather than ten smaller innovations. This is why they are currently researching PFAS-free rainwear.
Rainwear-such as jackets, outdoor gear, and shoes-is almost always made from polyester or nylon, often coated with PFAS or fluorinated substances. These are the so-called “forever chemicals” that do not break down and are harmful to both people and the environment.
Orange Parrot’s ambition is therefore to develop biodegradable textiles for raincoats: a jacket that is strong and waterproof, free from harmful PFAS, and compostable after years of use if buried in the ground. "Perhaps only the zipper would remain."
 

*) Orange Parrot is affiliated with ZWINC, which stands for Zwolle Incubator, founded by Windesheim University of Applied Sciences, the Province of Overijssel, and the Municipality of Zwolle. They help startups in manufacturing and IT to launch, build, and grow.