UK startup Naturbeads has secured a €4.1 million EU grant to build a new factory in Puglia, Italy, producing cellulose-based alternatives to microplastics. The funding comes from the European Structural Fund and will support both facility construction and R&D as the company moves toward full commercialisation over the next two years. Naturbeads, spun out of the University of Bath in 2018, develops biodegradable cellulose microspheres that replicate the performance of plastics across industries including cosmetics, paints, detergents, coatings, adhesives, and biomedical devices.
CEO Giovanna Laudisio emphasized that the company’s technology tackles microplastic pollution at its source while maintaining cost and performance parity with plastics. The patented process uses a green-solvent system to dissolve cellulose fibres and reform them into uniform beads, with complete solvent recovery in a closed-loop system to minimize waste and energy use. These beads are versatile, offering elasticity, scratch resistance, and stability for industrial applications, while also serving as substrates for cell culture, enzyme carriers, and vaccine development in life sciences.
Naturbeads has already begun validating its technology at industrial scale in Lecce, Puglia, where it is supplying its first customers and preparing to ramp up production. The company’s approach can also be adapted to other biopolymers and inorganic materials, opening pathways for advanced biodegradable particles and capsules. Partnerships with Chiral Vision, Cellular Agriculture, University College London, and German AI startup Vitafluence are expanding applications in enzyme immobilisation, cultivated meat, and vaccine formulations.
The urgency of alternatives like Naturbeads is underscored by the environmental impact of petrochemical plastics, which take centuries to degrade and contribute 3.4% of global emissions. With EU regulations set to ban microplastics in rinse-off cosmetics next year and in leave-on products by 2029, demand for sustainable substitutes is rising. Naturbeads joins other cellulose innovators such as Switzerland’s Seprify and Finland’s Elea & Lili, which have also raised funding this year to scale bioplastic solutions.
By combining scientific innovation with industrial scalability, Naturbeads positions itself as a key player in Europe’s transition away from microplastics, offering a sustainable material that protects ecosystems while meeting the performance needs of diverse industries.
