A recent investment of $14 million in private capital is poised to accelerate Xampla’s efforts in sustainable materials development. Leading the investment is Emerald Technology Ventures, recognized as Europe’s first specialist, venture-backed fund focused on the entire packaging lifecycle. The fund aims to drive progress in advanced materials that not only benefit the environment but also yield substantial returns. Along with Emerald, the Series A funding round includes BGF, one of the largest growth capital investors in the UK and Ireland, and Munich-based Matterwave Ventures, with additional support from existing investors such as Amadeus Capital Partners and Horizons Ventures.

The funding will enable Xampla to implement its groundbreaking Morro™ materials, which are expected to replace over ten billion units of highly polluting single-use plastics, including the plastic linings in takeaway boxes, coffee cups, and sachets, over the next five years. With global plastic production projected to reach a billion tonnes annually and less than 10% of plastic ever produced being recycled, the current environmental impact is staggering, with 8 billion tonnes of plastics and microplastics already in the environment.

Xampla's Morro materials provide a first-of-its-kind natural polymer alternative, crafted from regenerative plant proteins. They are entirely plastic-free, biodegradable, and home compostable. Notable partnerships with companies like 2M Group of Companies, Huhtamaki, and Transcend Packaging have already led to the replacement of harmful coatings on boxes utilized by food delivery services such as Just Eat Takeaway and Bunzl Catering Supplies. “Unlike plastic, Morro™ Coating maintains the recyclability of cardboard without compromising on grease, oxygen and moisture barrier properties,” the company states.

Additionally, Xampla is commercializing Morro™ films through global partnerships. These films are soluble, offering a potential substitute for polluting plastic PVA films in dishwasher tablets and laundry pods. They are also food-safe and can serve as edible packaging for various single-serve products, from sweets to soups. Xampla is also collaborating with leading FMCG brands and fragrance houses to replace harmful plastic microencapsulates used in homecare and beauty products.

The materials are derived from abundant and natural plant protein feedstocks like peas, rapeseed, and sunflower, and are completely free from PFAS and plastic, thus exempt from the European Union’s Single-Use Plastic Directive (SUPD). Xampla’s Chief Executive, Alexandra French, remarked, “This is a major vote of confidence for our revolutionary replacements for polluting plastics, and will see us expanding into Asia Pacific as well as growing in the UK and Europe. We have proven to investors and to brands that Morro™ materials are the real deal in making plastic a material of the past. In just the next five years, Xampla will replace ten billion pieces of single-use plastic. This is the technology industry has been crying out for. Our ambition now is nothing less than to see our products – proudly bearing their Morro marque – become the world’s go-to plastic replacement.”

Neil Cameron, who leads Emerald’s sustainable packaging investment fund, expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration: “Working with Xampla is part of our mission to turbocharge a revolution in innovative packaging. This technology hits the sweet spot I search for: a big solution to a big problem that can reap big rewards. And with its current global traction, there is huge potential to scale even further. The global barrier coatings market alone is set to be worth over $30bn by 2032, and that is just the beginning.”

Rowan Bird, an Investor at BGF, emphasized the scalability of Xampla’s technology: “Xampla’s technology stands out as a truly scalable and practical alternative to plastic. Its patented, entirely natural and PFAS-free material is not only strong in performance but also drop-in ready for existing manufacturing lines, making it an attractive option for brands looking to adopt more sustainable solutions. We believe in the strength of the team, the quality of the product, and the positive role Xampla can play in helping reduce reliance on polluting plastics. We’re excited to support their continued growth as they bring this innovation to more partners and applications.”

Ines Kolmsee at Matterwave Ventures noted the alignment of values: “Xampla’s mission fully aligns with ours: they are tackling a major sustainability issue with smart technology that can be used in existing manufacturing equipment, making it both easy to adopt and capital efficient. What really wowed us is their global team. These are real experts, drawing on the best science from the University of Cambridge and elsewhere. But this isn’t an academic exercise. They have got their product out of the lab and into the market. It is a remarkable achievement and I know they will now go from strength to strength.”

For further details, visit www.xampla.com/morro-materials.

‍