Xampla scales plant-based to slash billions of single-use plastic products

Xampla has secured a US$14 million investment to accelerate the transition from single-use plastics toward plant-based alternatives. 

Over the next five years, the funding aims to replace ten billion single-use products, including plastic linings found in takeaway boxes, coffee cups, and sachets, with Xampla’s Morro materials. 

“This is a major vote of confidence for our replacements for polluting plastics, and will see us expanding into Asia Pacific as well as growing in the UK and Europe,” says Alexandra French, CEO at Xampla. 

“We have proven to investors and brands that Morro materials are the real deal in making plastic a material of the past. Our ambition now is nothing less than to see our products – bearing their Morro marque — become the world’s go-to plastic replacement.”

Scaling bio-based

Lead investor Emerald Technology Ventures runs Europe’s first specialist, venture-backed investment fund targeting the full packaging lifecycle. The fund aims to accelerate advanced material development. 

Also involved in the Series A round are BGF, one of the largest growth capital investors in the UK and Ireland, and Munich-based Matterwave Ventures, along with follow-on investment from existing investors including Amadeus Capital Partners and Horizons Ventures.

Neil Cameron at Emerald Technology Ventures says: “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 potential to scale even further.”

Ines Kolmsee at Matterwave Ventures adds: “Xampla’s mission fully aligns with ours. The company is tackling a major sustainability issue with smart technology that can be used in existing equipment, making it both easy to adopt and capital efficient.”

Tackling pollution

Global plastic production is estimated to rise to a billion metric tons annually. Xampla notes that with less than 10% of plastic ever produced being recycled, there are now 8 billion metric tons of plastics and microplastics in the environment.

Xampla’s Morro materials offer a world-first natural polymer alternative. The solution is made from regenerative plant proteins, is plastic-free, biodegradable, and home compostable.

This year, Huhtamaki and Xampla supplied Bunzl with plant-based coated hot food boxes and equipped Lieferando with plastic-free takeaway boxes.