UK Startup Naturebeads Raises £7.8M to Combat Microplastic Pollution with Sustainable Alternatives

Naturebeads is a Bath-based startup that specializes in the commercialization of sustainable, biodegradable cellulose ingredients and has raised £7.8m series A funding. The investment came from Eos Advisory, a St. Andrews-based firm that is partnered with Progress Tech Transfer – an existing investor alongside new backer CDP Venture Capital which also invested in Foreverland, PI-NB and Paragon Capital Management in Singapore. This investment will allow Naturebeads to expand its production capabilities and meet the growing call for environmentally friendly alternatives to synthetic microplastics from a wide range of industries.

Scaling up Production for Demand Growth

The proceeds raised in this round will be used to scale up production to meet the rapidly expanding demand for sustainable ingredients in consumer and industrial applications. Building the first large-scale production of its cellulose microspheres in Puglia, Italy is one of the company’s biggest dreams. This new facility will allow Naturebeads to produce its exciting cellulose microspheres at a larger scale, opening up for it opportunities in cosmetics, paints, adhesives, and packaging among others.

Combating the Global Microplastics Crisis

Microplastics—tiny plastic particles under five millimeters—are an environmental and health threat. These particles persist for centuries in the environment and have entered ecosystems, waterways, and soil. More than 1,300 marine species contain microplastics, which further become part of the food chain, raising concerns about their impact on environmental and human health. Approximately 2 million tonnes of microplastics are present in common items like cosmetics, detergents, paints, and even agricultural products such as fertilizers that enter the environment every year.

Against this surging pollution crisis, the European Union has already implemented regulations to phase out the use of microplastics from rinse-off products like shampoo and face washes by 2027, followed by other personal care, home care, and agricultural products. At the forefront of this shift in regulations stands Naturebeads, whose biodegradable, plant-based alternatives to plastic microbeads are being used in everything from cosmetics and pharmaceuticals to industrial cleaners and nutritional supplements.

Cellulose Microsphere Technology

Founded in 2018 as a spin-out from the University of Bath, Naturebeads was founded by Professor Davide Mattia, Giovanna Laudisio, and late Professor Janet Scott. The company developed scalable and cost-competitive cellulose microsphere technology manufacturing biodegradable cellulose microbeads as an exact replacement for harmful plastic microbeads in a whole series of applications.

Cellulose microspheres from Naturebeads are already being tested for various sectors from cosmetics and personal care to paints and coatings, adhesives, and packaging. The beads, from plant-based materials, are fully biodegradable and can offer the same performance of plastic of the same kind, which simply means they constitute high-quality, environment-friendly alternatives to industries seeking to minimize their ecological footprint.

The company’s biodegradable microspheres are going to break into nature naturally without affecting performance, opening a pot of viable, sustainable alternatives in industries that have traditionally used plastics. Currently, Naturebeads is working with several companies worldwide to integrate these biodegradable microspheres into the formulations of products to reduce overall plastic pollution in the markets.
Thanks to the strong investor support and well-funding, Naturebeads is poised for massive growth in the coming years.

Andrew Durkie, Partner at Eos Advisory, was thrilled to be associated with Naturebeads as he focused on how the team was committed to solving one of the most significant environmental challenges of the modern world. “Giovanna and her team are tackling one of the most urgent environmental challenges of our time, and we look forward to supporting Naturebeads through its next exciting phase of commercialization,” Durkie said.

Alberto Calvo, Managing Director of Progress Tech Transfer, said the Naturebeads’ leadership team was working aggressively for an industrial-grade solution against the increasing pollutive threat from microplastic under diverse applications. While the production platform technology boasts high technical performance in adopting a fully circular approach, he said, “Naturebeads is an outstanding example of how a lab-borne project can be scaled up into very large industrial production, thereby accessing international investment.”.

Besides the investments from Eos Advisory and Progress Tech Transfer, there was also the welcome word of CDP Venture Capital’s Agostino Scornajenchi: “We are delighted that they have chosen to create a new production plant in Puglia.” Moving to Italy will be a step forward for Naturebeads in terms of increasing its production capabilities and providing more opportunities for employment and innovation in the region.

Looking Ahead: Commercial Milestones and Environmental Impact

Naturebeads has the potential to claim first commercial successes in 2025, and as the company progresses, it is perfectly well-positioned to be a player in reducing harmful microplastics in numerous industries. Sustainable and biodegradable, the Naturebeads move contributes to the reduction of plastic pollution around the globe while providing high-performance ingredients for consumer goods and industrial applications.

With innovative technologies, considerable investors support, and an aggressive expansion plan in the pipeline, Naturebeads is set to spearhead the production of a sustainable, environmentally-friendly alternative to traditional plastic microbeads. Given the increasing demand for environmentally friendly products by consumers, Naturebeads may well have a game-changer on their hands to moderate that impact made by everyday products on the environment.