A major injection of more than £10 million in private capital is set to accelerate UK materials innovation company Xampla’s mission to replace single-use plastics with alternatives made from plants.

The round has been led by Emerald Technology Ventures (which runs Europe’s first specialist, venture-backed investment fund targeting the full packaging lifecycle), alongside BGF and Munich-based Matterwave Ventures.

Over the next five years, the funding will see Xampla’s revolutionary Morro™ materials replace more than 10 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.

Alexandra French, Chief Executive at Xampla, said: “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.

“We have proven to investors and to brands that Morro™ materials are the real deal in making plastic a material of the past. In just the next five years, Xampla will replace 10 billion pieces of single-use plastic. This is the technology the industry has been crying out for. Our ambition now is nothing less than to see our products – proudly bearing their Morro marque – become the world’s go-to plastic replacement.”

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 also 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.

Xampla is also 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, including peas, rapeseed and sunflower, the materials are completely PFAS and plastic-free, and exempt from the European Union’s Single-Use Plastic Directive (SUPD).

Rowan Bird, Investor at BGF, commented: “Xampla’s technology stands out as a truly scalable 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.

“We believe in the strength of the team, the quality of the product, and the positive role Xampla can play in helping reduce reliance on polluting plastics. We’re excited to support their continued growth as they bring this innovation to more partners and applications.”