2025 marks a year like no other for traceless, as we prepare to launch our first large-scale production plant in Hamburg-Harburg. In 2024, we published the location of the plant and started construction work, which has been in full swing ever since. How is the construction site progressing, what new insights are there? We now took the start of the new year as an opportunity to sit down with Niklas, our Head of Technology Development, to talk about the progress, plans, and importance of this exciting new chapter for traceless.
Niklas, let’s start with the name—why “Neuland”? Niklas: Well, most obviously, Neuland is the name of the district in which the plant is located. When we decided to build our plant here, it soon establish itself as a project name. In German, therer is a saying "Neuland betreten", which could be translateda as "to break new ground and step on new land". This proverb captures everything this plant represents: innovation, progress, and venturing out into uncharted territory. This is our first large-scale production facility, and it represents more than just scaling up—it’s a major step toward transforming the industry. Neuland reflects the pioneering spirit that drives everything we do at traceless.
Can you remind us of what is being built here?
Niklas: As the next scale-up step after our pilot plant, which is already in operation since 2022, we are now implementing our techology on a large scale. Besides expanding our material production, the purpose of this plant is to demonstrate that our patented technology is scalable to industrial size. That’s why we call it our demonstration plant, or simply demo plant. For this site, we bought the building of the former industrial bakery Wedemann, located on an area of about a soccer field.
What’s the current status of the Neuland project?
Niklas: We’re making great progress! The renovation of the former “Wedemann” bakery building is nearly complete, transforming this historic site into a state-of-the-art production facility. Equipment installation has already begun, and we’re on track for commissioning in the second half of 2025. Once operational, Neuland will have an output capacity of several thousand tons of traceless® material per year, running 24/7 in a shift system to meet growing demand.
An inside look to the Neuland site: Demolition works of the production facilities of the former industrial bakery "Wedemann" are completed. Renovation and expansion of the building structure is in its last steps.
When will the production in Neuland finally start?
Niklas: The full start of operations will be in the second half of the year. But before that, we’ll finalize equipment installation, complete the commissioning process, and run thorough tests to ensure everything operates smoothly, all while expanding the traceless-team. Once up and running, we’ll produce our first commercial-scale batches of traceless® material, which our partners will transform into end products available to consumers. It’s a big step toward making our materials more widely accessible.
"Equipment installation has already begun, and we’re on track for commissioning in the second half of 2025." Niklas Rambow, Head of Technology Development
How does Neuland fit into traceless’ mission and vision?
Niklas: Neuland is essential to our mission of replacing conventional plastics with regenerative, natural alternatives. It marks a key step in proving that our material can be produced at an industrial scale, demonstrating the scalability and competitiveness of our technology. This is crucial for building industry trust and preparing for even larger-scale production in the future.
What’s special about Neuland from a sustainability perspective?
Niklas: Sustainability is at the core of everything we do, also here. For starters, the facility will run on renewable energy, and we’ve implemented a system for sustainable heat generation to minimize emissions. Renovating an existing building, rather than constructing something new, further reduces our environmental impact. Neuland won’t just be a production site—it’ll also house our R&D and office spaces, creating a single location where we can innovate, collaborate, and welcome customers and visitors.
Big moments: the arrival and installation of first plant components
You mentioned team expansion—what’s happening on that front? Niklas: Currently, we’re 65 team members strong, but as Neuland comes online, we’ll need another 35 to 40 people, mainly to support our operations. We’re hiring for a variety of roles, from plant operators to engineers, to ensure we can run 24/7 efficiently. Building the right team is crucial to making Neuland a success, and we’re excited to welcome new Tracies in 2025. If you’re passionate about sustainability and innovation, keep an eye on our careers page!
What has been the biggest challenge in bringing Neuland to life?
Niklas: Adapting a historic building for modern production has been a unique challenge, requiring creative solutions and careful planning. On top of that, we’ve faced some of the usual hurdles—like delays in deliveries, and securing capital for the project. Thanks to our successful Series A round and a funding from the Environmental Innovation Programme, we’ve been able to move forward on a good basis. Also, the commitment by our planning and construction partners to realize this project in budget and time is huge - this is something I'm very thankful for.
What are you most excited about as we head into 2025? Niklas: I’m excited to see Neuland in action! This plant represents years of hard work, innovation, and collaboration. Its success will prove that sustainable materials can be produced at scale, making a real difference for industries and the environment. Seeing our first large-scale batches roll out will be a proud moment for everyone involved. It will show our team, our partners, and everyone else that change is not just possible —it’s happening, and will create tangible impact in the physical world.
Stay tuned for more updates—we’re just getting started!
The Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection is funding this project with an amount of EUR 5,128,401 from the Environmental Innovation Programme.