The British materials technology company Xampla has raised 14 million US dollars in a financing round. The funds will be used to replace more than ten billion single-use plastic items with Xampla's Morro materials over the next five years.
Xampla is a spin-off from the University of Cambridge and develops natural polymer materials based on regenerative plant proteins (including those from peas, rapeseed and sunflowers). According to the company, the Morro solutions are Plastic and PFAS-free, biodegradable and compostable at home and do not fall under the EU Single-Use Plastics Directive.
With the help of the new resources, more than ten billion single-use plastic products are to be replaced over the next five years - including coatings in take-away packaging, coffee cups and films for dishwasher tabs. The Xampla solutions can be used as:
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Coatings (Morro Coating) for fibre-based packaging; in contrast to plastic coatings, the recyclability of cardboard is retained, according to Xampla, with simultaneous barrier properties against grease, oxygen and moisture.
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Films (Morro Films), which are water-soluble and have the potential to replace PVA films in washing-up liquid and detergent pods; they are also suitable as edible packaging for single-serve products.
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Microencapsulations for fragrances and active ingredients in home and beauty applications as an alternative to plastic-based microencapsulations.
Xampla is already working with partners such as Just Eat Takeaway, Bunzl Catering Supplies and Huhtamaki. The company intends to use the capital to expand its Expanding business in Europe and also drive forward our market entry in the Asia-Pacific region.
The financing round was led by Emerald Technology Ventures, BGF and Matterwave Ventures. Existing investors such as Amadeus Capital Partners and Horizons Ventures also participated again.
Source: Xampla
