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§ Private Profile · Gilbert, AZ, USA
Material science technology company developing sustainable fiber-based packaging to replace single-use plastics for the packaging industry.
Based in Gilbert, Arizona, Footprint develops material science technologies and fiber manufacturing processes to replace single-use plastics with sustainable packaging alternatives. The enterprise operates from a 135,000 square foot headquarters complex and maintains high-volume manufacturing facilities across the United States and Mexicali, Mexico, supported by a global workforce of approximately 1,500 employees. The company engineers custom equipment to produce microwaveable, multi-use, and durable packaging solutions for Fortune 100 customers seeking to eliminate plastic waste from their supply chains. In late 2021, the firm announced a planned public listing on the NASDAQ stock exchange through a merger agreement with the special purpose acquisition company Gores Holdings VIII, while also earning recognition on the CNBC Disruptor 50 list. Currently guided by CEO Corey Berends, Footprint was founded in 2014 by former Intel engineers Troy Swope and Yoke Chung.
Footprint has raised $19.0M across 2 funding rounds.
Footprint has raised $19.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Footprint is a materials science and technology company that develops plant-based, fiber-based alternatives to single-use plastics for food packaging and related products.[1][3][5] It serves global consumer brands, food companies, and industries by providing biodegradable, compostable, and recyclable solutions that redirect millions of pounds of plastic waste from the environment, with reported 2025 revenue of $605.9 million and around 571 employees.[1][2] Footprint solves the plastic pollution crisis by engineering products from sources like double-lined kraft, recycled cardboard, agricultural waste, and virgin wood fibers, enabling companies to switch from plastics while maintaining food safety for shelf-stable and frozen applications up to 180 days.[3][5] The company demonstrates strong growth momentum through global expansion, including factories in the US, Mexico, and a new 500,000 sq. ft. plant in Poland opened in 2024, alongside 240 patents and partnerships like Conagra's Healthy Choice Powerbowls.[1][3][5]
Footprint was founded in 2014 by former Intel engineers Troy Swope and Yoke Chung in Gilbert, Arizona, where Swope—described as an "accidental environmentalist"—noticed outgassing from plastics damaging Intel products and applied that insight to food packaging contamination.[3][5] The idea emerged from their engineering backgrounds, leading to the development of bio-based fiber technologies to eliminate single-use plastics in the food chain.[1][2][5] Early traction included a 2014 manufacturing plant in Mexicali, Mexico, followed by 2017 partnerships like Conagra and a 2018 headquarters with R&D labs; pivotal moments feature 2020 innovation awards (Fast Company, Fortune), 2021 CNBC Disruptor 50 recognition, and a planned (but delayed) public merger with Gores Holdings VIII.[3][5]
Footprint stands out in sustainable packaging through:
(Note: Search results reference a separate "Footprint" in identity/KYC tech [2][4], but context confirms this as the materials company.[1][3][5])
Footprint rides the global anti-plastic pollution trend, fueled by bans (e.g., plastic straws), consumer demand for sustainability, and regulatory pressures like EU single-use plastic directives, positioning it amid a shift to circular economies.[1][3] Timing aligns with post-2020 supply chain disruptions and ESG investing, enabling rapid scaling via engineered fibers that match plastic performance at competitive costs.[5] Market forces favoring Footprint include rising demand for compostable packaging in foodservice (competitors: Tetra Pak, World Centric) and expansion into Europe/Asia-Pacific, influencing the ecosystem by partnering with brands like Conagra to normalize bio-alternatives and reduce ocean plastic.[1][3][5]
Footprint's trajectory points to accelerated global dominance in sustainable materials, with the 2024 Poland plant unlocking Europe and Asia-Pacific growth amid tightening plastic regulations.[5] Trends like advanced recycling mandates and bio-economy investments will propel it, potentially reviving public listing ambitions post-2021 delays, while R&D sustains patent leadership.[3] Its influence may evolve from disruptor to industry standard-setter, redefining packaging as planet-positive—echoing its founding vision of a healthier planet through fiber innovation.[1][5]
Footprint has raised $19.0M across 2 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $13.0M Series A in May 2024.
Footprint has raised $19.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Footprint's investors include QED Investors, Adverb Ventures, Alt Capital, Ardent Venture Partners, Browder Capital, Founders Fund, FTX Ventures, Meritech Capital Partners, Mischief Venture Capital, Patron, Redpoint Ventures, Saga.