iCAST member and collaborator Naturbeads has received £7.8 million in funding to build a new factory to increase production of its plant-based alternative to microplastic beads. Founded by University of Bath researchers, the start-up company has developed innovative biodegradable cellulose ‘microspheres’, which it hopes will replace microplastics in a range of consumer and industrial products.
Naturbeads received the funding from investors including Eos Advisory, Progress Tech Transfer and CDP Venture Capital. The investment will allow the firm to respond to growing demand for its products by creating a new production plant in Puglia, Italy.
Naturbeads was founded in 2018 following research by the late Professor Janet Scott, who was based in Bath’s Department of Chemistry, and Professor Davide Mattia, of the Department of Chemical Engineering and now the company’s Chief Technology Officer, alongside CEO Giovanna Laudisio.
Professor Davide Mattia said: “Naturbead’s success would not have been possible without the constant support of the University of Bath: Janet and I started working on the technology behind Naturbeads over 10 years ago with support from the University of Bath’s Centre for Sustainable Chemical Technologies (CSCT), now known as the Bath Institute of Sustainability and Climate Change.
“Naturbeads has recently worked with iCAST to assess the sustainability of its process, has hired several Bath and iCAST alumni, and the company’s R&D activities continue to be hosted at the University, creating a virtuous cycle between industry and academia. It is also a great example of the expertise within the University and iCAST on sustainability and the great value of interdisciplinary research across campus.”
Naturbeads CEO and co-founder Dr Giovanna Laudisio added: “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 an eco-friendly, scalable alternative.”
An estimated 2 million tonnes of microplastics are added each year to everyday products including cosmetics, detergents, adhesives, paints, and others.
EU regulations to ban the use of micro plastics in cosmetics and other products were published in October 2023, with a view to phasing out their use in rinse-off products like shampoos and face washes by 2027, with other personal and home care products, and agricultural products including fertiliser to follow.
Naturbeads is already collaborating with a number of global manufacturers to integrate its cellulose microsphere ingredients into various industrial applications.
