Hargreave Hale AIM VCT (Hargreave Hale), an established venture capital trust investing in some of the UK’s most exciting high-growth businesses, today announced a £1.5 million investment in Xampla, a University of Cambridge spin‑out developing materials made from natural plant polymers designed to replace the hidden plastic found in packaging.
Hargreave Hale AIM VCT has a diversified portfolio of small, high-growth UK companies across biotech, industrials, consumer discretionary and technology. Xampla becomes the latest pioneering company to join the VCT’s portfolio of UK-based innovators.
The investment forms part of Xampla’s £13.2 million Series A round, led by Emerald Technology Ventures with participation from BGF and Matterwave Ventures. The funding will support the company’s transition into early commercialisation and manufacturing scale-up.
Global plastic production is estimated to rise to a billion tonnes annually, and with less than 10% of plastic ever produced being recycled, there are now 8 billion tonnes of plastics and microplastics in our global environment. [1] [2]
Xampla’s Morro materials offer a world-first natural polymer alternative. Made from regenerative plant proteins, they are completely plastic-free, PFAS-free, biodegradable and home compostable, providing a regulatory-compliant alternative to the hidden plastic linings commonly found in everyday items such as takeaway boxes, coffee cups and sachets.
Since 2018, Xampla has been scaling and, through partnerships with major packaging manufacturers Huhtamaki and Transcend Packaging, has already replaced polluting coatings on boxes used by food delivery giant Just Eat Takeaway and Bunzl Catering Supplies. The technology is designed for scale and engineered to be compatible with existing packaging manufacturing lines, enabling rapid adoption across supply chains.
Xampla is pursuing a licensing‑led business model and has entered into a commercial partnership with the 2M Group of Companies, which has invested in dedicated manufacturing capacity, and a strategic partnership with DIC Corporation to support expansion in Asia‑Pacific.
Lucy Bloomfield, Co‑Manager of Hargreave Hale AIM VCT, said: “Xampla represents exactly the kind of pioneering British innovation we look to champion. Its materials platform tackles a clear global challenge, with the potential to impact everyday items where the need for sustainable alternatives is urgent and universal.
“Our investment reflects the confidence we have in Xampla’s technology, its commercial traction and its scalable licensing model. It also speaks to the strength of the UK’s innovation ecosystem, which continues to produce world‑leading science and engineering‑based companies.
“Through the Hargreave Hale AIM VCT, we aim to connect our investors with Britain’s most promising growth businesses, and we are proud to partner with Xampla at this pivotal stage in its journey.”
Alexandra French, CEO of Xampla, commented: “Xampla is delighted to have the backing of Hargreave Hale AIM VCT, whose investment is a strong endorsement of the transformative potential of our natural polymer technology.
"Our mission is to replace the most polluting plastics at scale with natural, high-performance alternatives, and this recognition reinforces the viability of our vision. With partners like Hargreave Hale AIM VCT, Xampla is well positioned to continue growing in new markets to deliver global impact.”
Find out more at www.xampla.com/morro-materials