UK materials innovation company Xampla has secured $14m in private capital, through a series A funding round, to replace single-use plastics with plant-based alternatives.
This capital boost will enable Xampla's Morro materials to substitute more than ten billion units of highly polluting single-use plastics by 2030. These plastics are commonly found in products such as takeaway box linings, coffee cups and sachets.
Xampla's Morro materials, made from regenerative plant proteins, offer a sustainable solution as they are entirely plastic-free, biodegradable and home compostable.
The investment is led by Emerald Technology Ventures, known for operating Europe's first venture-backed investment fund focused on the entire packaging lifecycle.
Xampla chief executive Alexandra French stated: “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.
“Our ambition now is nothing less than to see our products – proudly bearing their Morro marque – become the world’s go-to plastic replacement.”
The funding round also includes contributions from BGF, a growth capital investor in the UK and Ireland, and Munich-based Matterwave Ventures.
Follow-on investment from existing stakeholders such as Amadeus Capital Partners and Horizons Ventures further bolsters the financial support.
With global plastic production projected to reach one billion tonnes annually and less than 10% of it being recycled, environmental impact is a growing concern.
Emerald sustainable packaging investment fund lead Neil Cameron stated: “The global barrier coatings market alone is set to be worth over $30bn by 2032, and that is just the beginning.”
Xampla has already formed partnerships with industry leaders 2M Group of Companies, Transcend Packaging and Huhtamaki.
Through these collaborations, the company has replaced harmful coatings on boxes used by Just Eat Takeaway and Bunzl Catering Supplies with its Morro coating, which also enables cardboard to remain recyclable without sacrificing barrier properties.
The company's Morro films, which are being commercialised globally, are water-soluble and poised to replace plastic polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) films in products such as dishwasher tablets and laundry pods.
These films are also food-safe and can be used as edible packaging for a variety of single-serve items, ranging from sweets to soups.
BGF investor Rowan Bird stated: “Xampla’s technology stands out as a truly scaleable 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.”
