Talk about turning trash into treasure! Fiber Global, a climate tech startup, just nabbed $20 million in Series A funding to ramp up its mission of converting waste like cardboard into eco-friendly building materials. Based in Brownsburg, Indiana, their Forged Fiber Board (FFB) is shaking up construction and furniture with a low-carbon footprint, zero toxic chemicals, and serious durability. With DBL Partners leading the charge, will this cash injection make Fiber Global a green building giant, or are there hurdles in scaling up?

The Big Win

Fiber Global’s $20 million haul, led by DBL Partners’ Ira Ehrenpreis—who’s now on their board—aims to supercharge their U.S. manufacturing. Founded by KC McCreery, the company takes paper and cardboard headed for landfills and spins it into high-performance building panels. Their flagship Forged Fiber Board (FFB), made from reclaimed corrugated cardboard, boasts a 70% lower carbon footprint than traditional materials, saves water and energy, and skips harmful stuff like formaldehyde and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

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Why It’s Cool?

Construction churns out over 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions—think 4 billion tonnes of CO2 yearly. Fiber Global’s FFB slashes that impact while matching or beating conventional panels in strength and cost. It’s UL GREENGUARD GOLD certified, meaning it’s safe for indoor air, perfect for schools or homes. Plus, it’s a circular economy champ: diverting 250,000 pounds of cardboard from landfills already, it saves 100,000 tonnes of waste yearly at scale.

The Plan

• Expansion: The $20 million will build new U.S. factories, starting in Indiana, to boost FFB production from 10,000 to 100,000 panels yearly.

• Tech: Their proprietary process uses bio-based resins and upcycled cardboard, with zero water waste and 80% less energy than plywood.

• Impact: Targets 1 million tonnes of CO2 savings by 2030, plus 500 jobs in manufacturing and recycling.

McCreery calls DBL Partners “part of the team,” sharing the vision to “reclaim tomorrow.” Pilot projects with furniture makers and builders are already rolling, with $5 million in contracts.

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The Challenges

Scaling ain’t easy. New factories could cost $50 million more, and training workers for specialized tech takes time—think 1,000 hours per employee. Competition’s fierce: cement giants like Holcim push green alternatives, with $10 billion in R&D. Public perception’s tricky too—20% of builders resist “recycled” materials, fearing quality, per industry polls. Supply chain hiccups, like cardboard shortages from e-commerce slowdowns, could spike costs by 15%.

What’s Next?

Fiber Global’s eyeing 10 new U.S. plants, creating 2,000 jobs and diverting 10 million tonnes of waste by 2035. They’re chasing $100 million in sales, with Europe and Asia on the radar. A Global Plastics Treaty could add $1 billion in incentives for circular tech, but U.S. tariffs on bio-resins might hike costs 10%.

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