France-based Lactips, a company that creates a biodegradable, water-soluble polymer made from natural materials, has raised €16M in a new funding round.
The investment was led by the Blue Ocean Fund, managed by SWEN Capital Partners, and supported by Impact Ocean Capital Fund, managed by GO CAPITAL.
The round also saw participation from the SPI Fund, managed by Bpifrance on behalf of the French government, BNP Paribas Développement, as well as Sogive, a family office.
Chloé Schiaffino, Investment Director at Bpifrance, says, “As a shareholder since 2020, we have supported Lactips in developing innovative products, enhancing its industrial facilities, and seizing new market opportunities within a positive societal and regulatory environment.”
“Today, Lactips provides relevant, industrially-proven solutions that have been embraced by several prominent clients. Building on its successful track record, this new funding round offers an opportunity to strengthen and solidify the company’s assets while accelerating its commercial growth and international expansion.”
Brief about Lactips
Founded in 2014 by Marie-Hélène Gramatikoff and Frédéric Prochazka, Lactips creates plastic-free, biobased alternatives to traditional plastic. Its water-soluble and fully biodegradable products offer sustainable solutions for packaging, labelling, agriculture, and outdoor sports.
The company uses natural proteins, like caseins, in its patented technology, and its products are edible, mass-producible, and have “strong” barrier properties.
In 2021, Lactips opened a new 2,500 m² production site and plans to increase its capacity to produce up to 10,000 metric tons of material. In 2022, Alexis von Tschammer became CEO, succeeding Gramatikoff.
Currently, the company employs 45 people, including a skilled management team.
Capital utilisation
Lactips offers sustainable, natural alternatives to traditional plastics. With patented technology, expert teams, and a large industrial facility, it has formed “strong” commercial partnerships. The company will use the funds to support its growth, aiming to expand in Europe, the Americas, and Japan.
The proceeds will also support ongoing research and development to improve products and reduce environmental impact, as well as investments in its industrial facility to increase production capacity.
Alexis von Tschammer, CEO of Lactips, says, “We are thrilled to reach this important milestone in Lactips’ development. The entry of impact funds into our capital is a genuine recognition of our long-term growth potential and our commitment to responsible development within the global ecological transition.”
“Our historic shareholders have once again confirmed their commitment to Lactips. These long-term partnerships provide us with the means to achieve our ambitions.”
What do the investors have to say?
Julie Peyrache, SWEN Capital Partners, says, “As plastic pollution poses a major threat to our oceans, we are particularly proud to support Lactips in its new phase of development. Lactips is an innovative industrial deeptech company with 10 years of research and development.”
“Since its creation, it has been committed to guiding manufacturers and brands in their ecological transition by providing 100 per cent bio-sourced solutions that are fully biodegradable in all environments and water-soluble, leaving no microplastics behind. With sustained development and a passionate team, Lactips has established itself as a market leader.”
Jérôme Gueret, GO CAPITAL, adds, “GO CAPITAL is proud to support Lactips in this new phase of its international expansion. With a talented team driven by impact, Lactips is positioning itself as a key player in the shift away from petroleum-based plastics. Their casein-based natural polymer addresses critical environmental challenges, particularly in safeguarding the health of marine ecosystems.”
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