Replacing microplastics in consumer goods

These biodegradable microcapsules could be used in cosmetics, farming, and more

Spotted: From oceans to farmland, plastic particles are being found in alarming concentrations across all our ecosystems, posing a threat to both environmental and public health. The European Commission’s recent October 2023 law banning intentionally added microplastics only highlights the urgency to find alternatives. Enter Calyxia.

Calyxia is a deeptech company and certified B Corp that’s developing biodegradable microparticles and microcapsules to replace microplastic products across industries as diverse as agriculture, cosmetics, and advanced materials. 

The solution is built on proprietary tech that produces high-performing, cost-effective, and sustainable microcapsules, enabling manufacturers to easily swap out traditional microplastic ingredients in everything from laundry detergents to crop protection chemicals. Not only are they biodegradable, the capsules actually enhance product durability, serving as barriers to prevent long-term material breakdown that often results in even more microplastic particles. 

CEO and Co-Founder Jamie Walters grew up in a family of coal miners in Britain, witnessing firsthand the adverse impact that industries can have on the environment and local families. This inspired him to work on safe, sustainable, and high-performance alternatives. He explains: “Our customers are eager to reduce the environmental impact of their products, but they often face trade-offs with performance and profitability. Our solution eliminates those trade-offs, enabling manufacturers to adopt greener practices without compromising efficiency.”

Having secured $35 million in series B funding last month, in a round led by Lombard Odier Investment Managers and Bpifrance, Calyxia plans to expand its production to a second site by Q1 2025. This will increase its capacity to 3,000 tonnes from its current 500 tonnes per year, bringing the startup closer to Walters’ ambition of becoming the global market leader in the next 5 to 10 years. After that, the company hopes to transform the industrial chemical industry more widely.

Written By: Oscar Williams