{"id":70849,"date":"2026-01-31T08:30:38","date_gmt":"2026-01-31T11:30:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tech.einnews.com\/article\/888222523"},"modified":"2026-01-31T08:30:38","modified_gmt":"2026-01-31T11:30:38","slug":"startup-makes-game-changing-breakthrough-that-could-transform-future-tech-a-turning-point","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/2026\/01\/31\/startup-makes-game-changing-breakthrough-that-could-transform-future-tech-a-turning-point\/","title":{"rendered":"Startup makes game-changing breakthrough that could transform future tech: &#8216;A turning point&#8217;"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"theco-ads-after-featured-image theco-target\" id=\"theco-3380543384\" data-theco-trackid=\"66778\" data-theco-trackbid=\"1\">\n var googletag = googletag || {}; googletag.cmd = googletag.cmd || [];<\/p>\n<div id=\"gpt-ad-5386533485955-0\">  googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.defineSlot( &#8216;\/22934660287\/article-page-image&#8217;, [300,250], &#8216;gpt-ad-5386533485955-0&#8217; ) .addService(googletag.pubads()).setTargeting( &#8216;tags&#8217;, [&#8216;green-tech&#8217;, &#8216;battery-showcase&#8217;, &#8216;business&#8217;, &#8216;change-the-way-you-get-around&#8217;, &#8216;clean-energy&#8217;, &#8216;electric-vehicles&#8217;, &#8216;home&#8217;, &#8216;make-your-next-car-an-ev&#8217;, &#8216;solar-panels&#8217;, &#8216;tech-showcase&#8217;, &#8216;waste-less&#8217;, &#8216;tech-2&#8217;] ).setCollapseEmptyDiv(true); window.advadsGamEmptySlotsTimers = window.advadsGamEmptySlotsTimers || {}; const timers = window.advadsGamEmptySlotsTimers; timers[&#8216;gpt-ad-5386533485955-0&#8217;] = setTimeout( function () { const id = &#8216;gpt-ad-5386533485955-0&#8217;; document.dispatchEvent( new CustomEvent( &#8216;aagam_empty_slot&#8217;, {detail: id} ) ); delete ( timers[id] ); }, 1000 ); if ( typeof window.advadsGamHasEmptySlotListener === &#8216;undefined&#8217; ) { googletag.pubads().addEventListener( &#8216;slotRequested&#8217;, function ( ev ) { const id = ev.slot.getSlotElementId(); if ( typeof timers[id] === &#8216;undefined&#8217; ) { return; } clearTimeout( timers[id] ); timers[id] = setTimeout( function () { document.dispatchEvent( new CustomEvent( &#8216;aagam_empty_slot&#8217;, {detail: id} ) ); delete ( timers[id] ); }, 2500 ); } ); googletag.pubads().addEventListener( &#8216;slotResponseReceived&#8217;, function ( ev ) { const id = ev.slot.getSlotElementId(); if ( typeof timers[id] !== &#8216;undefined&#8217; ) { clearTimeout( timers[id] ); delete ( timers[id] ); } if ( ! ev.slot.getResponseInformation() ) { document.dispatchEvent( new CustomEvent( &#8216;aagam_empty_slot&#8217;, {detail: id} ) ); } } ); window.advadsGamHasEmptySlotListener = true; } googletag.enableServices(); googletag.display( &#8216;gpt-ad-5386533485955-0&#8217; ); } );\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Singapore-based Flint is likely the envy of the origami world after its <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flintlabs.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">latest announcement<\/a>, which has nothing to do with paper cranes.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The tech company reported that it has started manufacturing biodegradable <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flintlabs.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">paper batteries<\/a> using water, cellulose, and other sustainable materials.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Full fruition of the effort would mean cleaner packs that can be scaled to power hearing aids and even be used for large-scale energy storage.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Flint <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flintlabs.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">listed<\/a> sensors and space-based equipment as other possibilities. CleanTechnica <a href=\"https:\/\/cleantechnica.com\/2026\/01\/02\/one-step-closer-to-the-compostable-ev-battery-of-the-future\/\" target=\"_blank\">reported<\/a> that the news puts so-called paper batteries one step closer to powering electric vehicles.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"theco-ad-after-5th-paragraph theco-target\" id=\"theco-747018492\" data-theco-trackid=\"66776\" data-theco-trackbid=\"1\">\n var googletag = googletag || {}; googletag.cmd = googletag.cmd || [];<\/p>\n<div id=\"gpt-ad-1470478410131-0\">  googletag.cmd.push(function() { var mapping = googletag.sizeMapping().<br \/>\naddSize([0, 0], [[300, 250], [300, 600]]).<br \/>\nbuild(); googletag.defineSlot( &#8216;\/22934660287\/article-page-mid&#8217;, [[300,250],[300,600],[320,480],[400,300]], &#8216;gpt-ad-1470478410131-0&#8217; ) .addService(googletag.pubads()).setTargeting( &#8216;tags&#8217;, [&#8216;green-tech&#8217;, &#8216;battery-showcase&#8217;, &#8216;business&#8217;, &#8216;change-the-way-you-get-around&#8217;, &#8216;clean-energy&#8217;, &#8216;electric-vehicles&#8217;, &#8216;home&#8217;, &#8216;make-your-next-car-an-ev&#8217;, &#8216;solar-panels&#8217;, &#8216;tech-showcase&#8217;, &#8216;waste-less&#8217;, &#8216;tech-2&#8217;] ).defineSizeMapping(mapping).setCollapseEmptyDiv(true); window.advadsGamEmptySlotsTimers = window.advadsGamEmptySlotsTimers || {}; const timers = window.advadsGamEmptySlotsTimers; timers[&#8216;gpt-ad-1470478410131-0&#8217;] = setTimeout( function () { const id = &#8216;gpt-ad-1470478410131-0&#8217;; document.dispatchEvent( new CustomEvent( &#8216;aagam_empty_slot&#8217;, {detail: id} ) ); delete ( timers[id] ); }, 1000 ); if ( typeof window.advadsGamHasEmptySlotListener === &#8216;undefined&#8217; ) { googletag.pubads().addEventListener( &#8216;slotRequested&#8217;, function ( ev ) { const id = ev.slot.getSlotElementId(); if ( typeof timers[id] === &#8216;undefined&#8217; ) { return; } clearTimeout( timers[id] ); timers[id] = setTimeout( function () { document.dispatchEvent( new CustomEvent( &#8216;aagam_empty_slot&#8217;, {detail: id} ) ); delete ( timers[id] ); }, 2500 ); } ); googletag.pubads().addEventListener( &#8216;slotResponseReceived&#8217;, function ( ev ) { const id = ev.slot.getSlotElementId(); if ( typeof timers[id] !== &#8216;undefined&#8217; ) { clearTimeout( timers[id] ); delete ( timers[id] ); } if ( ! ev.slot.getResponseInformation() ) { document.dispatchEvent( new CustomEvent( &#8216;aagam_empty_slot&#8217;, {detail: id} ) ); } } ); window.advadsGamHasEmptySlotListener = true; } googletag.enableServices(); googletag.display( &#8216;gpt-ad-1470478410131-0&#8217; ); } );\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>&#8220;Entering production is a turning point because it means our paper batteries can move beyond prototypes and into real devices, at real volumes, with quality controls that customers can validate,&#8221; Flint CEO Carlo Charles <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flintlabs.com\/blog\/flints-paper-batteries-are-here\" target=\"_blank\">said<\/a> in a news release.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>But its end-of-life scenario might be the most important element of the technology. Unlike traditional batteries, Flint&#8217;s product is made from 100% recyclable, nontoxic materials that safely decompose.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>That&#8217;s crucial, because typical lithium-ion packs can leach hazardous substances into the environment if improperly discarded, <a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC5920515\/\" target=\"_blank\">according<\/a> to a study published by the National Library of Medicine.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Battery buffs will recognize <a href=\"https:\/\/www.energy.gov\/science\/doe-explainsbatteries\" target=\"_blank\">core parts<\/a> in Flint&#8217;s pack: anode, cathode, and electrolyte. It&#8217;s what&#8217;s missing that&#8217;s peculiar. There&#8217;s no lithium, cobalt, or nickel \u2014 the high-cost, hard-to-gather materials in common lithium-ion batteries.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"theco-ad-before-10th-paragraph theco-target\" id=\"theco-981386356\" data-theco-trackid=\"66780\" data-theco-trackbid=\"1\">\n var googletag = googletag || {}; googletag.cmd = googletag.cmd || [];<\/p>\n<div id=\"gpt-ad-4505783621944-0\">  googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.defineSlot( &#8216;\/22934660287\/article-page-low&#8217;, [[300,250],[300,600]], &#8216;gpt-ad-4505783621944-0&#8217; ) .addService(googletag.pubads()).setTargeting( &#8216;tags&#8217;, [&#8216;green-tech&#8217;, &#8216;battery-showcase&#8217;, &#8216;business&#8217;, &#8216;change-the-way-you-get-around&#8217;, &#8216;clean-energy&#8217;, &#8216;electric-vehicles&#8217;, &#8216;home&#8217;, &#8216;make-your-next-car-an-ev&#8217;, &#8216;solar-panels&#8217;, &#8216;tech-showcase&#8217;, &#8216;waste-less&#8217;, &#8216;tech-2&#8217;] ).setCollapseEmptyDiv(true); window.advadsGamEmptySlotsTimers = window.advadsGamEmptySlotsTimers || {}; const timers = window.advadsGamEmptySlotsTimers; timers[&#8216;gpt-ad-4505783621944-0&#8217;] = setTimeout( function () { const id = &#8216;gpt-ad-4505783621944-0&#8217;; document.dispatchEvent( new CustomEvent( &#8216;aagam_empty_slot&#8217;, {detail: id} ) ); delete ( timers[id] ); }, 1000 ); if ( typeof window.advadsGamHasEmptySlotListener === &#8216;undefined&#8217; ) { googletag.pubads().addEventListener( &#8216;slotRequested&#8217;, function ( ev ) { const id = ev.slot.getSlotElementId(); if ( typeof timers[id] === &#8216;undefined&#8217; ) { return; } clearTimeout( timers[id] ); timers[id] = setTimeout( function () { document.dispatchEvent( new CustomEvent( &#8216;aagam_empty_slot&#8217;, {detail: id} ) ); delete ( timers[id] ); }, 2500 ); } ); googletag.pubads().addEventListener( &#8216;slotResponseReceived&#8217;, function ( ev ) { const id = ev.slot.getSlotElementId(); if ( typeof timers[id] !== &#8216;undefined&#8217; ) { clearTimeout( timers[id] ); delete ( timers[id] ); } if ( ! ev.slot.getResponseInformation() ) { document.dispatchEvent( new CustomEvent( &#8216;aagam_empty_slot&#8217;, {detail: id} ) ); } } ); window.advadsGamHasEmptySlotListener = true; } googletag.enableServices(); googletag.display( &#8216;gpt-ad-4505783621944-0&#8217; ); } );\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Proprietary chemistry and cellulose&#8217;s ability to act as an ion-transfer medium enable the pack to function, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flintlabs.com\/faq#:~:text=Surprisingly%2C%20yes!,custom%2Dshaped%20batteries%20for%20vehicles.\" target=\"_blank\">according<\/a> to Flint.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The paper battery also clears safety hurdles. Water-based chemistry eliminates the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kbb.com\/car-news\/report-evs-less-likely-to-catch-fire-than-gas-powered-cars\/\" target=\"_blank\">rare<\/a>, yet serious, fire risks associated with traditional packs. Importantly, it can be built at low cost, at scale, and independent from traditional supply chains that can be <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thecooldown.com\/green-business\/china-ev-production-rules-west\/\" target=\"_blank\">problematic<\/a>, per the company.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"theco-10th-p-carousel theco-target\" id=\"theco-946798502\" data-theco-trackid=\"446882\" data-theco-trackbid=\"1\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-tcd-accordion\">\n<div class=\"container-large\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-tcd-accordion-item\">\n<div class=\"accordion\">\n<div class=\"info-container\">\n<h2 class=\"heading-text h3\">TCD Picks \u00bb Upway Spotlight<\/h2>\n<p class=\"description-text\">\ud83d\udca1Upway makes it easy to find discounts of up to 60% on premium e-bike brands<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p>&#8220;Reinventing batteries isn&#8217;t only about chemistry, it&#8217;s about building something you can manufacture,&#8221; Charles <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flintlabs.com\/blog\/flints-paper-batteries-are-here\" target=\"_blank\">said<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Other interesting innovations geared to meet those goals include <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thecooldown.com\/green-tech\/sodium-ion-batteries-concentration-improved\/\" target=\"_blank\">sodium-based<\/a> packs and energy storage with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thecooldown.com\/green-tech\/bendable-battery-toothpaste-electrode-fluid-band\/\" target=\"_blank\">toothpaste-like electrodes<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Battery improvements can also help EVs. Lighter, better-performing packs travel farther, charge faster, and cost less than existing ones.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>But lithium-ion tech isn&#8217;t leaving motorists in the lurch. Edmunds has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.edmunds.com\/car-news\/electric-car-range-and-consumption-epa-vs-edmunds.html\" target=\"_blank\">a list<\/a> of more than 50 EVs that can travel over 300 miles on a single charge, for example.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Now is a great time to <a href=\"https:\/\/guide.thecooldown.com\/actions\/make-your-next-car-an-ev\/\" target=\"_blank\">buy or lease an EV<\/a>, as many states offer incentives to help you with the purchase and charging.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>EV drivers typically save up to $1,500 in gas and maintenance costs, with no spark plugs or oil changes to worry about. What&#8217;s more, <a href=\"https:\/\/guide.thecooldown.com\/actions\/install-solar-panels\/\" target=\"_blank\">home solar panels<\/a> can expand the savings by providing abundant energy via the sun to charge the ride.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The Cool Down&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thecooldown.com\/solar-explorer\/?utm_source=nav\" target=\"_blank\">Solar Explorer<\/a> will connect you with trusted partners who can curate competitive quotes, find the best local installers, and help you to get the best products to buy or lease at the right price.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>In addition to saving drivers money in the long term, EVs can help limit <a href=\"https:\/\/www.momscleanairforce.org\/resources\/tailpipe-pollution-and-our-health\/\" target=\"_blank\">harmful<\/a> exhaust pollution in your community.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Flint&#8217;s production start is a good sign that the company is on schedule. In late 2024, it announced a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flintlabs.com\/blog\/flint-joins-ces-2024\" target=\"_blank\">$2 million<\/a> investment. Next, officials hope to expand into Europe. They are working out of a new 8,000-square-foot facility to pilot concepts and scale production, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flintlabs.com\/blog\/flints-paper-batteries-are-here\" target=\"_blank\">per<\/a> the company&#8217;s press release.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;It shows the world that there&#8217;s a credible path to making batteries without relying on the same centralized lithium supply chains the industry has depended on for decades,&#8221; Charles <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flintlabs.com\/blog\/flints-paper-batteries-are-here\" target=\"_blank\">said<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Our technology is designed to be manufactured closer to where products are used, and Singapore gives us the infrastructure to prove that at production scale.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size\">Get TCD&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thecooldown.com\/newsletter\/?utm_source=recatpMmTkuCwUXmC\" target=\"_blank\">free newsletters<\/a> for easy tips to save more, waste less, and make smarter choices \u2014 and earn up to $5,000 toward clean upgrades in TCD&#8217;s exclusive <a href=\"https:\/\/links.thecooldown.com\/rewards-club\" target=\"_blank\">Rewards Club<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-tcd-cool-stories cool_stories\">\n<div class=\"cool_stories__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"container-large\">\n<div class=\"cool_stories__head title-underline-shape\">\n<h2 class=\"title\">Cool Picks<\/h2>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> <span class=\"cool_stories__bar tcd-gradient-viridis-alt\"><\/span> <\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-tcd-cool-divider cool_divider cool_divider__article_end\" data-title=\"Startup makes game-changing breakthrough that could transform future tech: 'A turning point'\" data-link=\"https:\/\/www.thecooldown.com\/green-tech\/paper-batteries-sustainable-power\/\">\n<div class=\"container-large cool_divider__wrap\"> <span class=\"cool_divider__stroke\"><\/span> <img data-opt-id=758893364  fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==\" fifu-lazy=\"1\" fifu-data-sizes=\"auto\" fifu-data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thecooldown.com\/wp-content\/themes\/tcd\/assets\/images\/divider-icon-earth.svg?w=75&resize=75&ssl=1 75w, https:\/\/www.thecooldown.com\/wp-content\/themes\/tcd\/assets\/images\/divider-icon-earth.svg?w=100&resize=100&ssl=1 100w, https:\/\/www.thecooldown.com\/wp-content\/themes\/tcd\/assets\/images\/divider-icon-earth.svg?w=150&resize=150&ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/www.thecooldown.com\/wp-content\/themes\/tcd\/assets\/images\/divider-icon-earth.svg?w=240&resize=240&ssl=1 240w, https:\/\/www.thecooldown.com\/wp-content\/themes\/tcd\/assets\/images\/divider-icon-earth.svg?w=320&resize=320&ssl=1 320w, https:\/\/www.thecooldown.com\/wp-content\/themes\/tcd\/assets\/images\/divider-icon-earth.svg?w=500&resize=500&ssl=1 500w, https:\/\/www.thecooldown.com\/wp-content\/themes\/tcd\/assets\/images\/divider-icon-earth.svg?w=640&resize=640&ssl=1 640w, https:\/\/www.thecooldown.com\/wp-content\/themes\/tcd\/assets\/images\/divider-icon-earth.svg?w=800&resize=800&ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/www.thecooldown.com\/wp-content\/themes\/tcd\/assets\/images\/divider-icon-earth.svg?w=1024&resize=1024&ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/www.thecooldown.com\/wp-content\/themes\/tcd\/assets\/images\/divider-icon-earth.svg?w=1280&resize=1280&ssl=1 1280w, https:\/\/www.thecooldown.com\/wp-content\/themes\/tcd\/assets\/images\/divider-icon-earth.svg?w=1600&resize=1600&ssl=1 1600w\" width=\"36\" height=\"24\" fifu-data-src=\"https:\/\/www.thecooldown.com\/wp-content\/themes\/tcd\/assets\/images\/divider-icon-earth.svg\" alt=\"Cool Divider\" loading=\"lazy\"> <span class=\"cool_divider__stroke\"><\/span> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/blockads.fivefilters.org\"> <\/a><\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/blockads.fivefilters.org\/acceptable.html\"> <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8230; with paper cranes.\u00c2\u00a0 The <span class=\"match\">tech<\/span> company reported that it has &#8230; most important element of the <span class=\"match\">technology<\/span>. Unlike traditional batteries, Flint&#8230; ones.\u00c2\u00a0 But lithium-ion <span class=\"match\">tech<\/span> isn&#039;t leaving &#8230; Charles said. &quot;Our <span class=\"match\">technology<\/span> is designed to be manufactured &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-70849","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","wpcat-1-id"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/70849","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=70849"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/70849\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=70849"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=70849"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=70849"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}