Cambridge spinout Xampla raises $14 million in Series A funding to scale up its biodegradable plant-based materials, aiming to replace over 10 billion units of single-use plastics by 2030 and address the global plastic crisis.
UK startup Xampla, a Cambridge University spinout, has secured $14 million in Series A funding to accelerate the development and scaling of its plant-based alternatives to single-use plastic packaging. This latest round, led by Emerald Technology Ventures, BGF, and Matterwave Ventures, brings the company’s total funding to $17.6 million. Existing investors, including Amadeus Capital Partners and Horizons Ventures, also participated. The fresh capital aims to propel Xampla towards its objective of replacing 10 billion units of single-use plastic packaging by 2030, spanning products like takeaway food boxes, coffee cups, and sachets.
Xampla’s flagship product, Morro, is a range of materials made from regenerative plant proteins sourced from peas, potatoes, rapeseed, sunflower, and agricultural waste streams. These materials are designed to be fully biodegradable and home-compostable, providing a sustainable alternative to both fossil-derived and renewable plastic coatings. Morro coatings deliver strong water and oxygen barrier performance, allowing cardboard packaging to remain recyclable without compromising on protection against grease, moisture, or oxygen. This combination addresses the persistent challenge of plastic contamination in recyclable paper packaging.
Beyond coatings, Xampla produces edible and soluble films, suitable for products such as ramen noodle packets, sweets packaging, and plastic-free laundry pods. The company is also innovating in microcapsule technology to replace microplastics commonly used in homecare, personal care, fragrance, and agrochemical products. These microcapsules release active ingredients without the environmental harm caused by conventional microplastics, aligning with growing regulatory pressure to limit plastic pollution.
The worldwide plastic crisis forms the backdrop for Xampla’s mission. Global plastic production is responsible for 3.4% of carbon emissions and is projected to triple by 2060. Despite the generation of over 430 million tonnes of plastic waste annually, only about 9% is recycled. Single-use plastics, which constitute more than 90% of plastic pollution, persist in the environment for centuries, leaching microplastics into soils and waterways. Policymakers in the UK, US states such as California, and the European Union, which aims to ban all single-use plastics by the decade’s end, are increasingly targeting these materials. Notably, Xampla’s Morro materials are exempt from the EU’s Single-Use Plastic Directive, enhancing their attractiveness as compliant sustainable packaging solutions.
Xampla’s technology, co-developed by founders Tuomas Knowles, Marc Rodriguez Garcia, and Simon Hombersley, is being commercialised through partnerships with companies such as 2M Group, Huhtamaki, and Transcend Packaging. Its plant-based coatings have been trialled in food service packaging by delivery services like Just Eat Takeaway’s German arm, Lieferando, supported by collaborations with Bunzl Catering Supplies. Several restaurant partners in Hamburg, Essen, Munich, and Wiesloch have tested the packaging as part of early trial phases promoting plastic-free alternatives.
The startup’s home-compostable films are entering markets via global FMCG partnerships, while microcapsule innovations are being introduced in the homecare and beauty sectors to replace harmful conventional plastics. Industry investors highlight Morro’s appeal as a “drop-in” replacement compatible with existing manufacturing processes, reducing barriers for adoption and enabling cost-effective transitions from plastic.
Xampla is part of a broader wave of innovation in sustainable packaging, following similar funding successes by companies like London-based Notpla, which has developed seaweed-based packaging, and Germany’s Vytal Global, which offers reusable food packaging technology. These developments underscore a growing momentum within the materials science field, driven both by regulatory shifts and consumer demand for plastic alternatives.
Xampla CEO Alexandra French emphasises the transformational potential of their technology, stating their ambition to make Morro the “world’s go-to plastic replacement,” a goal supported by investor confidence and high-profile partnerships. With the ongoing surge in capital investment and collaborative efforts, Xampla is positioning itself at the forefront of the green packaging revolution, aiming to significantly reduce the environmental impact of single-use plastics on a global scale.
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Source: Noah Wire Services
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative is fresh, with no evidence of prior publication. The earliest known publication date is September 3, 2025. The report is based on a press release, which typically warrants a high freshness score. No discrepancies in figures, dates, or quotes were found. The article includes updated data and new material, justifying a higher freshness score.
Quotes check
Score:
10
Notes:
The direct quotes from Xampla CEO Alexandra French and BGF investor Rowan Bird are unique to this report, with no identical matches found online. This suggests potentially original or exclusive content.
Source reliability
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative originates from Green Queen, a reputable media outlet known for its focus on sustainability and environmental issues. While not as widely recognised as some major news organisations, it is considered a reliable source within its niche.
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
The claims about Xampla’s funding and product offerings are plausible and align with information from other reputable sources. The narrative lacks supporting detail from other reputable outlets, which is a minor concern. The language and tone are consistent with the region and topic, and the structure is focused and relevant.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative is fresh, original, and sourced from a reliable outlet. The claims are plausible and supported by other reputable sources, with only a minor concern regarding the lack of supporting detail from other outlets. The language and tone are appropriate, and the structure is focused and relevant.
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