Xampla

Xampla wrapped stock cube / Source: Gousto

BeautyCompostableDissolvableEdibleEuropeFlexibleFood & BeverageFood GradeFreezer SafeOil ResistantOxygen Barrier PackagingSealableStrongTransparentWater SolubleXampla

WHAT WE SAY:

Finding a plastic-free, viable, scalable and economically-sound alternative to flexible plastics is the holy grail we’re all searching for. The convenience a like-for-like substitution would bring to the sector cannot be understated and investment is ripe and ready for any innovation that remotely fits the bill.

Xampla is one such innovation, already backed by over USD 12 million. This materials use of plant protein to replicate the properties of plastic could be the key to unlocking the flexibles’ future - one where it degrades naturally back into the earth as nutrients.

Xampla

WHAT IS XAMPLA?

Launched in 2018, and still in the early commercialisation phase, Xampla is a material made from plant proteins that is said to replicate, and hopefully replace, single-use flexible plastics.
Made from widely available, renewable plant proteins, such as pea, soy, potato, oilseed cake and fava bean hull, the material is inspired by the humble spider and its 380 million years of using self-assembling proteins to create spider silk.
Described as a ‘supramolecular engineered protein,’ the Xampla material is created by un-tangling plant proteins and re-assembling them, without altering the chemical structure of the molecules. This ‘no chemical modification’ is key and means Xampla is classified as a non-plastic by the EU definition.
These proteins are structured into the Xampla material, a strong, flexible, 100% bio-based material that is intended as a like-for-like swap for many flexible film and wrapper applications.
Applications include as a replacement for PVOH-based dissolvable films; as edible and cookable food wrappers; and as capsules for both the micro-encapsulation of fragrance and vitamins. The film can also be used as a protective lining on paper-based packaging.
Waterproof, heat sealable, transparent, flexible, grease resistant, freezer resistant and an oxygen barrier, the Xampla material behaves in the same way as its plastic-based counterpart, but with two notable differences.
Firstly, its feedstock is natural. Secondly, it degrades safely and quickly in soil, the marine environment, and in freshwater, breaking down into nitrogen rich compounds that feed the soil and give back to the earth from which it came. Not, as is the case with existing flexibles, into harmful and pervasive microplastics. This is the new nutrient materials story.
Xampla applied to paper and cartonboard can simply be recycled in the kerbside paper waste stream.
Existing collaborations with Xampla include Gousto - the meal box kit company who's using Xampla to house its stock cubes - and Croda International Plc, who is piloting commercial scale applications in the agricultural industry.

KEY PROPERTIES:

Compostable
Dissolvable
Edible
Flexible
Food Grade
Freezer Safe
Oil Resistant
Oxygen Barrier
Sealable
Strong
Transparent
Water Soluble

INDUSTRY:

Beauty
Food & Beverage
Packaging

AVAILABILITY:

Limited Orders

DIVE DEEPER:

A massive 85% of all single-use plastic packaging for food and beverage ends up in landfill or as unregulated waste globally.
Xampla’s naturally biodegradable plant protein-based films offer an alternative future. One where everyday items, such as laundry detergent and vitamins do not have a detrimental impact on our health and the health of the planet.
One proposed application of Xampla is as a replacement for water soluble dishwasher tablet coatings. These small tablets are currently packaged in plastic-based PVOH - aka PVA. PVOH is water soluble and turns into a liquid when exposed to water, washing down the drain, where only an estimated 25% of it is captured and treated by waste water treatment plants.
The other 75% goes straight into our ecosystems, with potential impacts ranging from dangerously changing levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide in nature, to interfering with crop yields. While the exact implications of PVOH in the environment are not fully known, concern is growing and alternatives are needed.
Xampla has also developed a range of edible and cookable wrapper films, currently being used by Gousto to wrap its stock cube. The wrapper is water soluble and safely dissolves when added to hot water. Gousto claims this replacement of plastic film could save 17 tonnes of plastic annually, when rolled out at scale.
Another application is as microcapsules. These tiny ‘bubbles’ of fluid and gas are used across the beauty, personal care, home, supplement, food and pharmaceutical markets. Suspended in liquid formulas, the capsules burst under pressure, releasing the encapsulated active ingredients.
These capsules are created by coating ingredients in a thin layer of polymer - both those made from proteins, as well as polysaccharides and synthetic polymers. The latter two are most common and they do not break down fully during use, entering our ecosystems as microplastics.
Xampla’s alternative solution is a plant protein-based microcapsule. As iterated above, these microcapsules are not only safe when released into the environment, but are safe to be consumed too. The company has designed its vitamin delivery capsules with fortified barrier properties, which increase the performance and shelf-life of the vitamins inside.
One company looking to capitalise on Xampla’s microcapsules is Britvic. A recent partnership, backed by GBP 1 million (USD 1.25 million) from Innovate UK, will see the Xampla microcapsules used to coat vitamins in Britvic drinks.
The aim is to use the Xampla material to protect the ingredients from UV rays, ensuring they do not break down before being consumed. Britvic’s driving motivator is its desire to use clear, rather than coloured, bottles, allowing the consumer to see the product before purchase. While we don’t back the use of any plastic bottles, the brand claims this choice is also fuelled by the higher recyclability rate of clear bottles.
A partnership between Xampla and Croda International Plc is also set to revolutionise the agricultural industry. The two companies have joined forces to develop the next generation of biodegradable, microplastic-free seed coatings.
Seed coatings are used in agriculture to protect seeds from pests and disease, and increase germination, in turn increasing crop yield. Most seed coatings are made from petroleum-derived polymers, which do not fully biodegrade in agricultural soils, breaking down into microplastics. Croda International Plc claims that seed coatings account for 1% of the world’s microplastic waste.
Created in 2022, the Croda partnership is backed by the UK Government and National Institute of Agricultural Botany for GBP 640,000 (USD 795,500). Xampla’s seed coating alternative offers zero residue following seed growth.
Xampla currently uses a variety of feedstocks to create its novel material, but as it expands it intends to move to agricultural crops and by-products to reduce pressure on the global food supply.
Xampla materials are in early stage trials and commercialisation. The company is flexible with order quantities, but lead time is dependent on the product required and is best established with the company on a case by case basis.

Xampla wrapped stock cube in water / Source: Gousto

Xampla seed coatings / Source: Xampla

KEY FACTS:

85%

Of all single-use food and beverage packaging ends up in landfill.

17tn

Gousto has the potential to save 17 tonnes of plastic every year, when its Xampla-wrapped stock cubes scale.

25%

Only 25% of water soluble PVOH plastic is treated by waste water treatment plants.

Key Questions to Ask:

Is Xampla cost-competitive?

There are currently very few commercial applications of Xampla in existence, and the company (despite its high level of investment) is still in its infancy. This will translate into higher initial costs for brands, especially early adopters looking to change the narrative and be the first to market.

How will you communicate your use of Xampla to the end consumer?

Xampla is very similar in appearance to plastic-based films, meaning many consumers will assume that it is. Not only would this be damaging to your brand’s reputation, it could lead to the poor handling of the material at the end of its life. Prioritise customer communication and education at all points of sale, providing information packs about the most efficient and responsible ways to dispose of it.

What impact could Xampla’s feedstocks have in the long term?

Arguments against using food source feedstock, for example peas, are entirely valid. We are living through a global food shortage, which is only set to worsen with the impacts of climate change. Xampla’s use of food sources for its proteins could come under fire as the company scales. The company’s proposed switch to by-product feedstocks will go a long way to mitigate this risk, but you should make it a priority to understand the exact ramifications of each feedstock Xampla uses now and in the future. Where food source feedstocks are unavoidable, local sourcing will be key.

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