INSIGHTS / News

The former Scale-Up programme member will use the funds to build its first production plant in Puglia, Italy, increasing the production capacity of its biodegradable cellulose microspheres.

In recent years, scientists have detected microplastic debris in more than 1,300 marine species. Unable to be broken down for hundreds of years, these microplastics have become heavily embedded in the food chain, raising grave concerns about their impact on environmental ecosystems and human health.

In October 2023, the EU introduced regulations to ban microplastics, aiming to phase their use out gradually. The restrictions will begin with rinse-off products like shampoos and facial cleansers by 2027, followed by a broader ban on their use in personal care items, household products, agricultural products such as fertilisers, and other applications.

Naturbeads has developed a scalable and cost-effective process to manufacture biodegradable cellulose microspheres that have the power to replace these harmful microplastics. Using its groundbreaking microbeads, Naturbeads will be able to ensure that fewer harmful plastics infiltrate the environment, delivering a sustainable solution for a greener planet.

The recent £7.8m round was led by Eos, alongside additional support from MITO Tech Ventures, CDP Venture Capital, PI-NB, and Paragon Capital Management.

Founded in 2018 as a spin-out of the University of Bath, Naturbeads joined SETsquared’s Scale-Up programme shortly after to raise valuable investment and build additional R&D partnerships to help scale its technology.

Naturbeads is already partnered with global manufacturers to incorporate its technology into a range of industrial applications, demonstrating that its microbeads naturally decompose without affecting product performance. The company plans to unveil its preliminary commercial targets in early 2025.

Speaking on the recent investment, Dr Giovanna Laudisio, CEO and Co-Founder, Naturbeads, said, “Microplastics have been found at the top of Arctic mountains and in the depths of the Mariana Trench, with a recent study forecasting that microplastic pollution could more than double over the next decade. Our differentiator from other companies who are trying to solve challenges around plastic packaging is that we are one of few that is solely focused on the plastic found within daily products, and producing eco-friendly, scalable alternatives.”

Andrew Durkie, Partner, Eos, added, “Giovanna and her team are tackling one of the most urgent environmental challenges of our time, and we look forward to supporting Naturbeads through its next, exciting phase of commercialisation.

Alberto Calvo, Managing Director, Progress Tech Transfer, said, “The leadership team has bold ambitions in coming up with an industrial-grade solution to tackle microplastic pollution in a variety of different applications, with a platform technology that is delivering high technical performance with a fully circular approach.”

Speaking on the location of the new production site, Agostino Scornajenchi, Managing Director and General Manager, CPD Venture Capital, added, “Naturbeads represents an excellent example of how a project born in the laboratory can evolve into large-scale industrial production, attracting international investment – and we are delighted that they have chosen to create a new production plant in Puglia.”