Next-generation materials company Xampla has been awarded the Innovate UK Smart Grant alongside 2M Group of Companies to support scaled-up manufacturing of its natural, biodegradable Morro materials.
The grant will support the existing European partnership between Xampla and 2M Group of Companies to bring its Milton Keynes manufacturing site up to a Morro production capacity of multiple tonnes per day.
2M Group of Companies has significant expertise in chemical manufacturing, supply, and distribution. The funds will support the group to service the packaging industry with Morro materials, delivering value to its broad customer network in the material and life science industries.
Globally, around three million tonnes of petroleum-based, non-biodegradable functional and barrier coatings for single-use paperboard packaging are produced each year. Morro Coating is a high performing, drop-in plant-based replacement for these traditional petroleum-based coatings. Fully biodegradable and home compostable, according to Xampla, it is safe for food contact and offers high strength, grease, and oxygen barrier properties.
Xampla has already received funding from UK Research & Innovation and Innovate UK through the Smart Sustainable Plastic Packaging (SSPP) Challenge, delivered by Innovate UK.
“It is incredibly exciting to see Xampla’s innovative material moving into the commercialisation stage. The SSPP Challenge aims to change our relationship with plastic packaging and Xampla and its Morro brand, working with 2M Group of Companies, have the potential to do just that.”
Paul Davidson, Challenge Director
By 2031, Xampla estimates that Morro materials could replace up to 10,000 tonnes of single-use plastic coatings and one million kilometres of plastic-coated paperboard, otherwise destined for landfill, incineration, or environmental release, per year.
“We are proud to be awarded this grant from Innovate UK, in collaboration with 2M Group of Companies, to accelerate Morro materials’ next phase of commercialisation and position ourselves as world leaders in sustainable packaging.
“Our partnership will support Morro Coating’s route to market by unlocking critical in-kind support from key customers and enabling access to 2M Group of Companies’ world-leading expertise in manufacturing and distribution.”
Alexandra French, CEO of Xampla
