Danish biotech company Cellugy has received $9.25 million (€8.1 million) from the European Union (EU) LIFE Program to scale up EcoFLEXY, its biofabricated cellulose platform aimed at replacing microplastics in personal care. The funding, part of the company’s BIOCARE4LIFE project, will reportedly accelerate commercial readiness for EcoFLEXY Rheo, a fully bio-based and biodegradable rheology modifier that rivals petrochemical performance — without compromising product texture or skin feel, per the company.
Replacing Fossil-derived Ingredients
Designed to replace fossil-derived carbomers and acrylates, EcoFLEXY Rheo is said to alleviate environmental and health concerns posed by microplastics. According to Cellugy, the material delivers superior stability, sensoriality and compatibility, and offers ease of use unmatched by current bio-based alternatives like xanthan gum or nanocellulose.
“An alternative material that simply aims to be more sustainable is not enough,” said Isabel Alvarez-Martos, Ph.D., Cellugy CEO and co-founder. “...[W]e need higher-quality alternatives like EcoFLEXY … Only when bio-based materials match or exceed the performance and economics of traditional ingredients will we see the transformation needed.”
Minimizing Environmental Impact and Optimizing Production
The BIOCARE4LIFE scale-up is supported by a specialist consortium:
- The Footprint Firm (TFF) will lead environmental impact validation and alignment with circular economy goals.
- Sci2sci, a Berlin-based biotech startup, will apply machine learning and data science to optimize fermentation and production processes.
“The project signals real progress toward more sustainable manufacturing in the personal care sector,” said Will Nunn, Manager at TFF. “The combination of technical innovation and sustainability validation positions EcoFLEXY very strongly for market adoption.”
“Scaling a biotech solution is never simple, but it’s where the real value lies,” added Angelina Lesnikova, CEO of Sci2sci. “Our role is to optimize every layer of production … so that EcoFLEXY can compete with petrochemical alternatives not just on environmental benefits, but on cost and performance metrics.”
The four-year project will fund scale-up, process optimization, and market validation.
“This grant provides the resources we need to transform our vision into reality,” said Alvarez-Martos. “Our end goal is sweeping petrochemicals from an industry worth billions, and we now have the backing and the partnerships to make it happen.”
