TEN BILLION items of single-use plastic to be replaced, following $14m investment in Xampla
Xampla has secured $14m of investment, in a round led by Emerald Technology Ventures, BGF and Matterwave Ventures
The University of Cambridge spin out has created world-first natural materials from plant protein, to replace the world's most polluting plastics
Funding will see more than ten billion units of single-use plastic replaced with Xampla's Morro™ materials in the next five years
ZURICH, Sept. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A major injection of $14m in private capital is set to accelerate UK materials innovation company Xampla's mission to replace single-use plastics with alternatives made from plants.
Lead investor Emerald Technology Ventures runs Europe's first specialist, venture-backed investment fund targeting the full packaging lifecycle. The fund aims to catalyse leaps in advanced materials that benefit the planet and earn significant returns.
Also leading the Series A round is 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.
Over the next five years, the funding will see Xampla's revolutionary Morro™ materials replace more than ten billion units of the most polluting single-use plastic, including plastic linings found in takeaway boxes, coffee cups and sachets.
Global plastic production is estimated to rise to a billion tonnes annually, and with less than 10% of plastic ever produced being recycled, there are now 8 billion tonnes of plastics and microplastics in our global environment. 12
Xampla's Morro materials offer a world-first natural polymer alternative. Made from regenerative plant proteins, they are completely plastic-free, biodegradable and home compostable.
Through partnerships with big names such as 2M Group of Companies, Huhtamaki and Transcend Packaging, Xampla has already replaced polluting coatings on boxes used by food delivery giant 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's Morro™ films, being commercialised through global partnerships, are soluble, giving them the potential to replace polluting plastic PVA films in dishwasher tablets and laundry pods. They are also food-safe and can be used as edible replacements for packaging a wide range of single-serve products, from sweets to soups.
In addition, Xampla is working in partnership with leading FMCG brands and fragrance houses to deploy Morro™ materials in place of harmful plastic microencapsulates used to convey scents and active ingredients in homecare and beauty products.
Made from abundant and natural plant protein feedstocks, ...
