Plant-based alternative to single-use plastic gains momentum with $14 million investment in Xampla
In a significant move towards sustainable packaging solutions, British biotech startup Xampla has secured $14 million in private capital. The funding round, led by Emerald Technology Ventures, aims to help Xampla's Morro materials replace over ten billion units of single-use plastic over the next five years.
The exploration of Xampla's Morro materials extends to various product categories, including food, beverage, pharmaceutical, medical, home, and personal care. One of the key advantages of Morro Coating is its superior barrier properties, which extend the shelf life of food and beverages.
Xampla is partnering with FMCG brands and fragrance houses to replace plastic microencapsulates used in homecare and beauty products with Morro materials. The company's recent collaboration with Bunzl UK & Ireland saw the introduction of Huhtamaki's Morro coated 'Taste' hot food boxes to Bunzl's range of food service packaging.
Avantium, a Dutch company, and Amcor, a global packaging solutions provider, have signed a joint development agreement to explore the use of Avantium's plant-based polymer PEF (Releaf) in rigid containers. Releaf, another plant-based polymer by Avantium, has a lower processing temperature compared to traditional fossil-based plastics, which cuts energy consumption.
The films made from Morro Coating are soluble and have the potential to replace plastic PVA films in dishwasher tablets and laundry pods. They are also food-safe and can be used as edible replacements for packaging a range of single-serve products such as sweets and soups.
Besides Emerald Technology Ventures, the companies BGF and Matterwave Ventures have also built the financing for Xampla. This investment aims to support Xampla's development and deployment of plant-based alternatives to single-use plastics over the next five years.
Amadeus Capital Partners and Horizons Ventures made follow-on investments, and the partners aim to replace traditional fossil-based plastics with Releaf in their products. The joint development agreement was earlier this year, marking another step towards sustainable packaging solutions in the industry.
Morro Coating maintains the recyclability of cardboard without compromising on grease, oxygen, and moisture barrier properties. However, no information was provided about the potential replacement of single-use plastic units or the properties of Releaf in terms of biodegradability or compostability.
This collaboration is expected to contribute significantly to the replacement of single-use plastics with sustainable alternatives, offering a promising future for both the environment and the packaging industry.
