Cambridge Xampla's bid to eliminate plastics boosted by £5.5m funds

Xampla makes plant-based alternatives to plastic packaging

A Cambridge University spin-off company specialising in plant-based coatings has secured £5.5m in funding to continue its work to eliminate plastic.

Xampla, which is based in the city, is being backed by venture capital companies specialising in technology.

The latest funding will help it further develop its consumer brand, Morro, which is plant-based and fully compostable and biodegradable, it said.

Companies so far using the products include Britvic and Gousto.

Alexandra French, head of Xampla, whose headquarters are at Cambridge Science Park, said they were "determined to lead the way towards a future where natural materials thrive, and traditional plastics become a thing of the past".

The recent investment would be used to "advance production of [our] biodegradable, plant-based materials, supporting big brands to move away from single-use plastic".

The company's head office is in Cambridge

Morro materials are safe to be used on foodstuffs and its core resin can be used to create a range of products, including sustainable packaging.

The company said it hoped its Morro Coating brand could replace plastic-based coatings in takeaway packaging, sachets and cups, in the future.