Scott Thompson, head of R&D at Xampla, answers Packaging Scotland’s questions about the company’s ongoing mission to develop sustainable packaging products
Q) What’s the history of Xampla? Why was it founded and what have been some of the biggest achievements so far?
A) The research behind Xampla’s material began over 15 years ago, at the University of Cambridge. After spinning out of the University in 2018, the business rapidly obtained patents for its plant-based natural polymers and production processes.
From there, Dr Marc Rodriguez, now chief technical officer, led the business through a rapid expansion, leading the technical development and recruiting a number of global industry experts to work with the world’s biggest brands. Motivated by the ever-worsening plastic crisis, the Xampla team began to bring to market natural, plastic-free materials that could replace the most polluting plastics.
Offering a drop-in solution to manufacturers, convertors and brands, Xampla’s material enabled its partners to make the simple switch to natural materials without changing their machinery or manufacturing process. This resulted in partnerships with brands such as Gousto, Britvic and Croda.
Our most recent achievement has been the launch of our consumer brand – Morro – which has seen us move one step further in making it easier for brands and consumers alike to produce and choose products that are good for the planet.
Q) What are some of Xampla’s most successful products and can you provide some examples of packaging applications they are being used in?
A) Xampla’s unique material can be used to create a whole range of products. Our launch products with Morro are Morro Soluble Film, Morro Edible Film, Morro Coating, Morro Micro and Morro Nutri.
Morro Soluble Film is a natural replacement for the soluble plastic found on dishwasher tablets and laundry pods, known as PVOH/PVA. Made from plants, Morro Soluble Film, offers the same performance benefits as PVOH, but biodegrades fully and rapidly in the natural environment at end of life.
Morro Edible Film replaces polluting plastic sachets, by creating an entirely new consumer experience where you can actually eat your packaging. Brought to market with meal kit company Gousto, Morro launched the world’s first edible stock cube wrapper to replace single-use plastic sachets. This product is 100% edible, digestible, dissolvable and made from vegan and gluten-free plant-based material.
Morro Coating delivers a sustainable packaging solution for a range of goods, from food to cosmetics. The plant-based coating is a replacement for current petrochemical-based or fluorochemical materials used as coatings for paper and cardboard packaging. Morro Coating can be applied to a variety of substrates and tailored for use, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and improving the recyclability of coated paperboard packaging.
Morro Micro replaces polluting plastic microcapsules found within personal care homecare products.  Morro’s innovative plant-based microcapsule solution will protect fragrances within a variety of products, such as fabric conditioners and laundry detergent, replacing the need for plastic microcapsules that release hidden microplastics into the natural environment.
Morro Nutri protects vitamins, nutrients and other valuable ingredients within food and drink, delivering their benefits in the most effective way to the consumer. The breakthrough technology allows brands to fortify beverages with additional wellbeing ingredients by protecting ingredients from UV light, external pH and heat shock. The innovation is critical for shipping fortified drinks, such as squash and fruit juice, in easily recyclable, clear plastic bottles. We are developing this technology further with global drinks retailer, Britvic.
Q) How does the technology work?
A) Xampla’s technology is neither a plastic nor a bioplastic but an entirely new material, made just from plants. It is created by engineering sustainably sourced feedstocks, including plant proteins and other natural materials into high-performance, functional materials. With no chemical crosslinking, Morro materials break down safely, quickly and fully without leaving anything behind – acting just like the plants it’s made from.
Our materials offer drop-in solutions, meaning they are compatible with current manufacturing equipment and offer exceptional performance in application.
Q) Tell me about the new consumer brand Morro.
A) Morro is the consumer facing brand for our natural, plastic-free materials. Our recent consumer research showed that over half of the UK public (54%) are optimistic that as more and more plastic products are banned, plastic will become a material of the past. Yet despite public demand for natural materials, there is confusion around misleading green claims. Almost three-quarters of UK consumers (73%) say they find the sustainability credentials of plastic substitutes confusing and would benefit from clearer labelling.
Morro makes it simple. We create natural materials, all made from plants, that are clearly labelled with the Morro marque. This means consumers can be really clear about the claims we are making, and they know it’s a product they can trust.
Customers will soon be able to look out for the Morro marque on packaging to know that it is not only a truly sustainable solution, but that it can provide transparent and fully documented sourcing and manufacturing process information.
Q) What can you tell us about Xampla’s future plans?
A) With incoming EU directives limiting the use of single-use plastics, it is clear plastics are bad for the planet and for business. Our focus for Morro is on working with the world’s biggest brands to bring our material to supermarket shelves. Having recently opened a second laboratory in Cambridge and growing our team of experts by over a quarter, customers will soon be able to see the Morro marque on packaging, representing a gold standard in sustainability, and letting them know that the material is fully biodegradable and home compostable.
