The steep rise of e-commerce has been a boon for consumers, but the packaging that goes with it is a massive downside for the planet. All that single-use plastic and Styrofoam, especially for cold packaging, is contributing to greenhouse gas emissions and consequently climate change.
Major companies, like Amazon, say they are trying to reduce packaging, but of the 380 million tons of plastic produced annually about half of it is for single-use purposes, like product packaging and Styrofoam.
Now, companies like TemperPack, Green Cell, and a California-based startup called Cruz Foam are revolutionizing the market by producing more recyclable and biodegradable packaging. Cruz Foam stands out by using an unconventional ingredient in its packaging – shrimp shells.
“What we’ve accomplished is developing a process that allows us to convert this waste into large-scale replacements for plastics,” said John Felts, CEO of Cruz Foam.
The foam is made from chitin, a material found in shrimp shells, insects, and fungi. It is biodegradable, meaning it can be composted or will decompose quickly in a landfill. Felts refers to it as “earth digestible.” Moreover, since it is made from waste, it is more cost-effective compared to other biomaterials. Cruz Foam supplies the material to packagers instead of manufacturing the packages themselves.
“Our business scales with existing manufacturing, enabling us to achieve economies of scale and cost efficiency rapidly,” added Felts.
The company has already formed partnerships with Rivian and Whirlpool, and investors see tremendous potential in the market.
“This is an enormous sector. Considering the various municipalities, states, and countries banning polystyrene and single-use plastic, along with corporate commitments, there is a substantial business opportunity here,” said Dan Fishman, co-founder of Regeneration.VC, a firm that supports Cruz Foam.
Cruz Foam offers various products, including cold packaging for foods and protective wrap as a substitute for bubble wrap. However, it faces competition from other companies that produce packaging from natural materials such as seaweed, mushrooms, waste wool, and recycled pulp.
The company is also backed by Helena, Sound Waves, At One Ventures, and One Small Planet, with reported total funding of $18 million.
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