Xampla’s edible stock cube wrapper and vitamin D microcapsule innovation earn awards recognition

The launch of the world’s first edible stock cube wrapper has earned Xampla a sustainability award.

And the Cambridge Science Park-based company has also been named as a finalist in another awards ceremony for its novel vitamin D microcapsule technology.

Xampla is an innovative creator of drop-in, natural materials to replace polluting plastics.

It works with global brands to deliver breakthrough product development and plastic replacement products, using patented technology developed at the University of Cambridge, over 15 years of fundamental protein research.

It shapes plant proteins and other sustainable feedstocks into functional materials, extending the shelf-life of valuable ingredients.

The plant-based material can be used in food and packaging or within home and personal care applications.

It worked with meal kit retailer Gousto to launch the first edible stock cube wrapper, made from pea protein. The cookable wrapper gave customers a new experience - eating their product packaging.

The first meal box featuring Xampla’s material sold out in less than an hour and if rolled out at scale across all of Gousto’s meal kits, it would enable the company to save up to 17 tonnes of plastic a year.

Xampla and Gousto won the SEAL Business Sustainability Awards’ Sustainable Innovation Award for the innovation, and they shared the stage with the likes of Disneyland, General Electric, GM, Microsoft, Oracle, Proctor & Gamble and Samsung.

Xampla was then named as a finalist in Just Drinks Excellence Awards for its work with global drinks manufacturer Britvic on bringing a next-generation Vitamin D microcapsule to market.

Offering a better way of fortifying vitamins in beverage products, the breakthrough product is shortlisted in Just Drink’s Innovation category, which covers from research and development to new business practices.

The drop-in high-performance plant protein material developed by Xampla can be used to replace visible polluting plastic and hidden microplastics within liquids and lotions.

Replacing synthetic materials in existing manufacturing processes, it is expected to feature in other new product launches in 2023 as Xampla scales.

Pete Hutton, executive chair of Xampla, said: “This year has been an incredibly successful one for Xampla and we are proud that our work with both Gousto and Britvic has been recognised in these prestigious awards.

“Xampla is committed to pioneering replacements for the most polluting plastics through our high performance natural materials. Congratulations to all the teams involved, and we look forward to driving forwards our scale-up strategy in 2023 with new product launches and brand partnerships.”