Mark Herrema: The Visionary Transforming Carbon into Opportunity

Mark Herrema is an American entrepreneur, environmental innovator, and the co-founder and CEO of Newlight Technologies. He is best known for pioneering the development of AirCarbon, a carbon-negative biomaterial made from captured greenhouse gases that serves as a sustainable alternative to traditional plastics and leather. Since founding the company in 2003, Herrema has focused on market-driven environmentalism, creating a scalable technology that turns carbon emissions into a valuable resource rather than a waste product. Under his leadership, Newlight has formed partnerships with global brands in the fashion, automotive, and food service industries, earning prestigious accolades such as the EPA’s Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award.

In this comprehensive guide, you will learn about Mark Herrema’s academic foundations at Princeton University, the “breakthrough moment” that led to the birth of Newlight Technologies, and the intricate biological process used to create AirCarbon. We will also explore his personal life, including his high-profile engagement to British influencer Emily Canham, and his vision for a future where industry actively heals the planet through carbon-negative manufacturing.

Early Life and Academic Foundations

Mark Herrema was born in the United States and demonstrated a keen interest in the intersection of systemic policy and scientific application from a young age. He attended Princeton University, where he graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Politics and Political Theory. His academic career was uniquely interdisciplinary, as he supplemented his political studies with extensive coursework in physics, mathematics, and chemistry.

The seeds of his future innovation were sown during his senior year, where his thesis focused on using market systems to address global environmental challenges. He believed that for a climate solution to truly scale, it needed to be economically competitive with established fossil-fuel-based products. This foundational belief in market-driven sustainability would eventually become the core philosophy of Newlight Technologies.

The Genesis of Newlight Technologies

The idea for Newlight Technologies was sparked in June 2003 after Herrema read a Los Angeles Times article regarding methane emissions from dairy cows. He questioned why carbon was being treated as a pollutant to be taxed or buried when nature uses carbon as a building block for life. Along with his childhood friend Kenton Kimmel, Herrema founded Newlight in a small garage with the goal of mimicking nature’s ability to convert gas into solid material.

The early years of the company were characterized by intense research and development, as the founders worked to identify the specific microorganisms capable of “eating” greenhouse gases. They spent nearly a decade refining the process and securing over 100 patents to protect their proprietary carbon-capture technology. This period of persistence was fueled by Herrema’s vision of a world where plastic pollution and climate change could be addressed through a single, revolutionary material.

Understanding the Science of AirCarbon

AirCarbon is a high-performance polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), a molecule that occurs naturally in nearly all living things, including microorganisms in the ocean. The production process involves capturing greenhouse gases—such as methane or carbon dioxide—and placing them into a bioreactor where they are mixed with air and specialized enzymes. These microorganisms consume the gas as food and convert it into a solid white powder within their cells.

Once the AirCarbon is extracted and dried, it can be melted and formed into a wide variety of shapes, from thin fibers for fashion to thick molds for furniture. Unlike petroleum-based plastics, AirCarbon is carbon-negative, meaning the production process removes more CO2-equivalent greenhouse gas from the atmosphere than it emits. Additionally, the material is fully biodegradable in marine environments, providing a solution to the global ocean plastic crisis.

Subtopic: Commercial Applications of AirCarbon

Newlight has successfully commercialized AirCarbon through two primary consumer brands: Restore Foodware and Covalent Fashion. Restore focuses on high-quality, home-compostable straws and cutlery, while Covalent produces luxury fashion items such as carbon-negative eyewear, bags, and wallets. Each Covalent product features a “Carbon Date,” a unique code that allows consumers to track the specific carbon that was captured to create their item.

Leadership and Global Impact

As CEO, Mark Herrema has steered Newlight through several successful private placement offerings and strategic partnerships with industry giants like Nike, Chanel, and Target. His leadership style is often described as patient and solution-oriented, focusing on long-term systemic change rather than short-term financial gains. He has been instrumental in scaling the company’s production facilities, including a major plant in Huntington Beach, California, which serves as the global headquarters.

The impact of his work has been recognized globally, leading to his inclusion in the TIME100 Climate list of the most influential people in climate action. By proving that sustainable materials can be cheaper and more durable than their petroleum counterparts, Herrema has challenged the “green premium” myth. His work serves as a blueprint for the next generation of climate entrepreneurs who are looking to align profitability with planetary health.

Personal Life and Relationship

While Mark Herrema has historically kept a low personal profile, his relationship with British social media influencer and entrepreneur Emily Canham has brought him into the public eye. The couple first sparked rumors of a connection in 2021 through matching travel locations on social media and publicly confirmed their relationship in late 2022. Their bond is reportedly built on shared values regarding sustainability and environmental advocacy.

In early 2025, Herrema and Canham announced their engagement, a milestone that was met with widespread support from their combined global audiences. As of early 2026, the couple maintains a bi-coastal lifestyle, splitting their time between Los Angeles, California, and the United Kingdom. Their partnership has increasingly blended the worlds of high-tech innovation and digital storytelling, with Canham often using her platform to highlight Newlight’s environmental mission.

Practical Information and Industry Access

For businesses and consumers interested in engaging with Mark Herrema’s work or Newlight Technologies, there are several practical ways to connect:

• Product Availability: Consumers can purchase AirCarbon products directly through the Covalent and Restore websites, or through participating retailers like Target.
• Corporate Partnerships: Newlight frequently collaborates with manufacturers to replace existing plastic or leather supply chains with AirCarbon. Inquiries are handled through their Huntington Beach headquarters.
• Career Opportunities: The company is known for its diverse team of scientists, engineers, and creatives, with open positions typically listed on the Newlight Technologies official website.
• Public Speaking: Mark Herrema is a frequent speaker at major climate and technology conferences, including the World Economic Forum and various sustainability summits.
• Location: The primary manufacturing and R&D hub is located at 14382 Astronautics Dr, Huntington Beach, CA 92647, USA.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Mark Herrema? 

Mark Herrema is the co-founder and CEO of Newlight Technologies. He is a pioneer in carbon-capture technology and the creator of AirCarbon, a sustainable alternative to plastic.

What is AirCarbon? 

AirCarbon is a carbon-negative biomaterial produced by microorganisms that eat greenhouse gases. It mimics the performance of plastic and leather but is fully biodegradable and better for the environment.

Where did Mark Herrema go to college? 

He graduated magna cum laude from Princeton University, where he studied politics and political theory along with physics and chemistry.

Is Mark Herrema married to Emily Canham? 

As of early 2026, Mark Herrema and Emily Canham are engaged. They announced their engagement in 2025 and are one of the most recognized couples in the sustainability and influencer spaces.

What awards has Mark Herrema won? 

His notable awards include the EPA Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award, the Popular Science Innovation of the Year, and recognition as a TIME100 Climate honoree.

How does AirCarbon help the ocean? 

Unlike traditional plastic, AirCarbon is certified to biodegrade in marine environments if it ever enters the ocean, meaning it does not persist for centuries or harm marine life.

Can I buy AirCarbon products? 

Yes, products made from AirCarbon are sold under the brands Covalent (fashion) and Restore (food service) online and in select retail stores.

Is Newlight Technologies a public company? 

No, Newlight Technologies is currently a private company, though it has raised significant capital through private investors and strategic partnerships.

How much carbon does AirCarbon remove? 

The process is carbon-negative, meaning for every pound of AirCarbon produced, a net amount of greenhouse gas is sequestered from the atmosphere.

Who are Newlight’s partners? 

The company has partnered with several global organizations, including Nike, Chanel, Target, and IKEA, to integrate sustainable materials into their product lines.

What inspired Mark Herrema? 

He was inspired by a news article about methane emissions and his belief that nature’s own processes could be harnessed to solve man-made environmental problems through market-driven innovation.

Final Thoughts

Mark Herrema represents a new breed of CEO, one who views the world’s most pressing environmental crisis as its greatest manufacturing opportunity. By refusing to accept that carbon is merely a pollutant, he has spent over two decades building a bridge between nature’s biological efficiency and the high-demand world of global commerce. His success with Newlight Technologies and the creation of AirCarbon demonstrates that profitability and planetary healing are not mutually exclusive; rather, they are the twin pillars of the next industrial revolution.

As he moves into a new chapter of his life in 2026, marked by both significant technological scaling and a high-profile personal life with Emily Canham, Herrema remains a focused advocate for measurable impact. Through his leadership, carbon-negative materials have moved from a garage concept to the supply chains of the world’s most iconic brands. His journey serves as a powerful reminder that with enough persistence, the very air we breathe can become the foundation for everything we make.

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