A Bath-based company developing biodegradable microbeads has secured €4.1 million in EU funding to build a production facility in southern Italy. Naturbeads, which offers a natural alternative to synthetic microplastics, received the grant from the European Structural Fund. The money will help establish a plant capable of producing biodegradable microbeads on an industrial scale.
The startup’s technology replaces traditional plastic microbeads with particles made from cellulose, a natural polymer found in plant fibers. These beads break down in the environment without leaving harmful residues, unlike conventional microplastics that persist for centuries. The EU funding targets regions needing economic revival, and southern Italy was selected for its industrial potential and need for sustainable job creation.
Naturbeads’ chief executive said the grant would accelerate commercial production, which is expected to start next year. The company has already tested its beads in personal care products, demonstrating they perform similarly to plastic alternatives while reducing pollution. Regulators in the EU and US are tightening rules on microplastics, creating demand for compliant materials.
The funding follows Naturbeads’ earlier seed round, which raised £2.3 million from UK investors. With the new EU grant, the company plans to hire 50 workers at the Italian plant and supply clients in Europe’s cosmetics and detergent sectors. Industry analysts say the shift away from plastic microbeads could cut marine pollution by thousands of tons annually.
Source: eu-startups.com