UK materials innovation company Xampla has announced the successful raise of US$14 million in a Series A investment round. The funding will be utilised to scale its technology, designed to replace billions of single-use plastic items with plant-based alternatives.
Plastic pollution remains a significant environmental challenge, as plastic does not fully biodegrade but instead breaks into smaller fragments, accumulating in ecosystems and posing threats to wildlife and public health. Xampla, a spin-out from the University of Cambridge, has developed Morro materials, a natural polymer alternative derived from regenerative plant proteins. These materials are plastic-free, biodegradable, home compostable, and exempt from the EU’s Single-Use Plastic Directive (SUPD). According to the company, Morro materials aim to address the global plastic waste crisis, with approximately 400 million tonnes of plastic waste generated annually and less than 10% being recycled.
The new capital injection is projected to enable Xampla’s materials to replace more than 10 billion single-use plastic items over the next five years. Xampla’s CEO, Alexandra French, expressed confidence in the company’s potential, stating that the funding represents a significant endorsement of their innovative solutions. The company plans to expand its operations in the Asia Pacific region and further grow in the UK and Europe.
In the coming years, Morro materials are expected to replace plastics in applications such as linings for takeaway boxes, coffee cups, and sachets. Unlike conventional plastics, Morro Coating allows cardboard to remain recyclable while providing protection against grease, oxygen, and moisture.
The funding round was led by Emerald Technology Ventures, a venture fund focused on sustainable packaging. Neil Cameron, leading Emerald’s sustainable packaging investment fund, highlighted the global potential of Xampla’s technology, noting the significant growth forecast for the barrier coatings market.
Other participants in the Series A round included BGF, one of the largest growth capital investors in the UK and Ireland, Munich-based Matterwave Ventures, as well as existing investors Amadeus Capital Partners and Horizons Ventures. The funding is expected to facilitate the expansion of Xampla’s partnerships and global reach as it scales the production of Morro materials to combat some of the most polluting plastics worldwide.
Rowan Bird, Investor at BGF, praised Xampla’s technology for its scalability and practicality as an alternative to plastic, emphasizing its compatibility with existing manufacturing lines and its appeal to brands seeking sustainable solutions.
