Luna Yu’s Genecis Revolutionizes Sustainable Bioplastics
By James Moreau | 27 Oct, 2025

Luna Yu’s Genecis Bioindustries is tackling two environmental problems at once by transforming food waste into high-functionality bioplastics.

Luna Yu’s Genecis Bioindustries takes on environmental challenges by converting organic waste into fully compostable bioplastics called polyhydroxyalkanoates or PHAs, which offer the same functionality as plastic without the pollution.  Other bioplastics can degrade quickly, but unlike PHAs they can’t be injection-molded or blow-molded easily. 

Yu’s company also aims to cut carbon emissions by diverting food waste from landfills.

Founded by Yu in 2018, the Toronto-based company has focused on B2B sales, primarily to CPG companies like Novo Nordisk and Unilever.  But Genecis sees more opportunity in developing direct-to-consumer goods. 

Currently, they have two consumer brands.  Mad Tea, launched in October 2024, offers compostable Nespresso-compatible tea pods, and Mad Coffee launched in July 2025, has a machineless iced coffee product.  Yu also sees potential for products ranging from single-use cutlery to medical tools.

Genecis has raised $17 million in funding from investors, including Amazon’s Climate Pledge Fund and Khosla Ventures, plus another $15 million in Canadian grant funding.

The company’s innovative approach earned Yu a spot in Forbes’ 30 Under 30.

The 31-year-old completed both her bachelor’s and master’s in environmental science from the University of Toronto in four years.  By then she had already founded, grown, and exited two profitable software startups.  Yu moved from China to Canada at age eight.  Her early exposure to severe pollution in her hometown outside Beijing inspired her to pursue environmental sustainability solutions.