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Xampla develops Morro materials, a portfolio of natural, plant-based polymers designed to replace environmentally damaging conventional plastics. These proprietary materials are fully biodegradable, home compostable, and integrate into existing recycling streams. Their advanced technology engineers plant proteins to deliver high functional performance without chemical modification, offering sustainable alternatives across applications.
The company emerged from over fifteen years of dedicated research at the University of Cambridge. This extensive academic work led to the insight that plant-based proteins could be engineered to create high-performance, plastic-free materials. Xampla subsequently spun out to commercialize this patented technology, leveraging deep scientific understanding.
Morro materials cater to diverse industries, providing plastic-free coatings for packaging, edible films for FMCG, soluble films for home and personal care, and microcapsules for active ingredients. Xampla's mission is to eliminate polluting plastics, simplifying the choice for businesses and consumers to adopt planet-friendly materials and foster a sustainable future.
Xampla has raised $39.4M across 6 funding rounds.
Xampla has raised $39.4M in total across 6 funding rounds.
Xampla is a materials innovation company that develops plant-based, biodegradable alternatives to conventional plastics, using natural plant polymers without chemical modification.[1][2][4][5][6] Its flagship Morro™ materials include coatings, edible films, soluble films, and microencapsulation solutions for eco-friendly packaging in food and beverage, personal care, and home care sectors, addressing plastic pollution by enabling drop-in replacements compatible with existing manufacturing.[1][2][4][5] Founded in 2018 and based in Cambridge, UK, Xampla has raised $18.56M, achieved B Corp certification with a 106.0 impact score, and demonstrated commercial traction through partnerships like Lieferando and brands such as Gousto and Britvic.[1][2][3][5][6]
Xampla emerged from 15 years of research at the University of Cambridge, spun out in 2018 via Cambridge Enterprise from Professor Tuomas Knowles' lab, where co-founder and CTO Dr. Marc Rodriguez Garcia developed the core plant protein technology as a postdoctoral researcher.[4][5][6] Knowles serves as Scientific Adviser, emphasizing biocompatible materials from pea protein to replace single-use plastics like bags, sachets, and films.[5] The company gained early momentum with 19 patents filed, B Corp status in 2020 as the first university spin-out to achieve it, and the 2023 launch of consumer-facing Morro™ after market research showed strong demand for natural packaging; CEO Alexandra French joined that year to scale operations.[2][3][5][6]
Xampla rides the global push against plastic pollution, targeting single-use plastics amid regulatory pressures like EU bans and consumer demand for sustainable packaging—75% prefer natural alternatives per its research.[3][5] Its timing aligns with bioplastics market growth, differentiating from competitors like PlantSwitch or TIPA by avoiding chemical tweaks for truly natural, scalable solutions compatible with legacy infrastructure.[1][4] By enabling brands like Lieferando to go plastic-free and scaling via licenses (e.g., 2M Group), Xampla influences the ecosystem, accelerating adoption in food delivery, FMCG, and beyond while proving deep-tech spin-outs can deliver commercial impact.[3][5]
Xampla's trajectory points to expanded commercial rollout, with large-scale supply from 2024, new partnerships, and Morro™ marque signaling mainstream adoption amid rising sustainability mandates.[3][5] Trends like circular economy policies, bio-based material investments, and FMCG net-zero goals will propel growth, potentially evolving Xampla into a platform leader for plastic elimination. As plant-powered innovation scales, it could redefine materials science, turning Cambridge research into a global force against pollution—proving natural alternatives can outperform synthetics at volume.[3][4][6]
Xampla has raised $39.4M in total across 6 funding rounds.
Xampla's investors include Emerald Technology Ventures, Amadeus Capital Partners, Playfair Capital, Bart Swanson, Rowan Bird, Horizons Ventures, Ines Kolmsee, Cambridge Angels, Cambridge Enterprise, Szymon Smyk, Horizon Ventures, Martlet Capital.
Xampla has raised $39.4M across 6 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $14.0M Series A in September 2025.
