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Rooted in extensive research at the University of Cambridge, Xampla's technology aims to replace conventional plastics with sustainable alternatives. In this interview, Alexandra French, CEO of Xampla, elaborates on the company's innovative approaches in packaging and nutrient fortification within the food and beverage industry, highlighting the challenges and successes in their mission to create environmentally friendly solutions.

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Can you tell us more about Xampla's journey and mission in revolutionising packaging with biodegradable, plant-based materials? 

Grounded in 15 years of fundamental protein research at the University of Cambridge, Xampla's technology unlocks the power of plant protein to create new materials that can replace plastics and do things they never could. Our natural polymer materials are a high-performance, 'drop-in' solution to replace plastic. And in the food and beverage industry, our work goes beyond packaging to the fortification of essential vitamins and nutrients.  

Our resin is used to create Morro Coating, which replaces plastic coatings on paper and cardboard food packaging. This plant polymer substitute for petrochemical-based and fluorochemical materials or perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) used on paperboard, provides the experience consumers are used to, without the pollution or the health risk associated with ‘forever chemicals.’  

Meanwhile, this edible, vegan material can also be used to fortify drinks with vitamins. Xampla's microencapsulation technology enables microscopic droplets of vitamin oil to be encased and protected from UV light, pH imbalance and pasteurisation. This helps brands avoid costly ‘overage’ of vitamins and ensures fortified beverages can be packaged in transparent, recyclable bottles instead of opaque alternatives.  

Xampla has grown rapidly since making its first hire in 2020; our team is now made up of more than 40 experts in science and industry. This depth of knowledge has helped accelerate the commercialisation of our technology, with our materials being supported by global FMCG brands.  

What inspired the creation of Morro, Xampla’s consumer brand, and how does it contribute to the company’s mission? 

Morro is Xampla’s first consumer brand, created to commercialise our range of plastic-free products so that consumers can make a simple choice to put the planet first.  

With consumers increasingly choosing products based on their environmental credentials, and bans and taxes on single-use plastic, our plastic-free materials are a timely solution for brands seeking a ‘drop-in’ replacement for plastic. Our materials do not require expensive new machinery and enable brands to offer consumers the products they know and love, without the environmental cost of plastic production and pollution. 

The Morro marque, which brands can use on any product where they’ve replaced plastic with Morro materials, is a badge for a better future and a clear signpost to consumers. 

Could you elaborate on some of the recent collaborations and partnerships Xampla has engaged in with the F&B industry, such as with Britvic? 

Xampla is collaborating with several leading brands in the food and beverage industry to replace plastics with our natural plant materials. 

Having partnered with 2M Group of Companies in 2023, they have since entered a partnership with packaging supplier Huhtamaki. Together they will deploy our natural polymer material across a range of paperboard takeaway boxes, in place of traditional fossil-derived plastic coatings.  

Some of our production applications have already made their way to kitchen shelves, including the world’s first edible stock cube packaging, which was developed with meal kit retailer Gousto.  

Extending beyond plastic packaging, Xampla has collaborated with drinks giant Britvic to pilot our natural fortification technology across a selection of its beverages. By encapsulating vitamins in microscopic edible plant protein microcapsules, we reduce the risk of essential nutrients being damaged by pH imbalances, UV degradation and pasteurisation.  

This innovation makes it possible to transport fortified products without the need for thicker plastic packaging, or costly ‘overage’ of added vitamins, which are traditionally used across industry. 

Xampla is rapidly scaling up, with more partnerships in the pipeline to be announced soon. 

Xampla recently completed a $7 million round of investment. How will this investment support the company's growth and innovation moving forward? 

The $7 million capital raised at the beginning of 2024 – bringing our total investment to $17.6 million – is accelerating the transition of Xampla products from pilots to production. Specifically, we are scaling up our product Morro Coating into new markets, replacing plastic-based coatings on takeaway food and drink packaging.  

We recently announced with 2M a new multi-year supply deal with the food packaging supplier Huhtamaki, to deploy Morro Coating at scale across Huhtamaki’s premium corrugate board containers. The partnership has seen us set up a new production plant in Milton Keynes and we are already going great guns. It’s all about working with the right people to achieve scale. 

As a trusted first-choice for sustainable packaging solutions, the Huhtamaki deal will see Morro materials facilitate a positive environmental change for the biggest brands in food service and catering – including quick service restaurants and speciality coffee – and ensure benefit for millions of consumers. Morro Coating is set to replace more than 10,000 tonnes of plastic coating by 2031. 

Can you discuss the significance of the 'Morro Marque' and how it will impact consumers' purchasing decisions in supermarkets? 

Visible on our Morro Coating food containers, the Morro Marque makes it simple for consumers. 

A badge for a plastic-free future, the presence of the Morro Marque on the packaging indicates where our high-performing natural polymer materials have been used instead of plastic, eliminating harm to the planet at the end of use. 

Contemporary research reveals that a growing number of individuals are demanding plastic-free alternatives, yet confusion persists surrounding the sustainability claims of plastic substitutes. The Morro marque has been designed to remove this complexity and confusion, inspiring consumer confidence in the products that carry it. 

What challenges has Xampla faced in developing plant-based alternatives to traditional plastics, and how have these been addressed? 

One of the biggest challenges we have overcome in developing our materials is ensuring that our natural coatings can be produced on the same manufacturing lines as their synthetic predecessors. 

Our patented technology works by shaping plant proteins and other feedstocks into functional materials to provide protection and extend the shelf-life of valuable ingredients. By engineering a 'drop-in' solution for existing manufacturing processes and equipment, our technology is highly scalable and requires no additional investment in machinery.  

Bringing together scientific and industry insight, our growing team is uniquely positioned to understand our customers’ R&D needs, including their supply chain and manufacturing processes. 

Xampla retains its university roots by working with a wide range of R&D experts. Our team comes from all over the world and from across the FMCG industry. They use our cutting-edge facilities in Cambridge to test and improve our products, enabling us to optimise Morro materials and put them to work for our customers. 

How does Xampla ensure the quality and functionality of its biodegradable materials compared to conventional plastics? 

All our Morro materials are engineered with the customer to deliver the performance they need, ensuring our technology matches their functionality requirements. Our packaging products are all food-contact safe and provide excellent grease, water and oxygen barrier performance as well as heat-sealability, whilst being completely free from the ‘forever chemicals’ found in traditional plastics.  

Our focus is removing the most polluting, single-use plastics some of which are hidden and cannot be recycled. One of the problems we are trying to solve is people using plastic for temporary functions. 

Plastic lasts forever, whereas Morro materials last only as long as they are needed. Unlike plastics, Xampla’s products have been constructed with end-of-life as a key design consideration. Because our materials are not chemically modified, they are biodegradable in any environment. 

What message/advice would you like to convey to other scale-ups looking to make it big in the food and beverage industry?  

Innovation is the driving force of progress, but for innovation to gain traction, it must be easy and convenient for your customers to adopt. 

One piece of advice for those looking to establish themselves within the food and beverage industry would be to understand your customers and ensure that the products that you’re offering truly serve their business needs.

Bringing together the best industry minds and undertaking years of research and development has enabled us at Xampla to offer a seamless replacement for plastic that can do things synthetic polymers never could.