Calyxia Bags $17.6M to Fight Microplastics Pollution

The Growing Threat of Microplastic Pollution

Our planet is facing a critical issue: an overwhelming accumulation of human-generated microplastics. These minuscule, non-biodegradable plastic fragments, often invisible to the naked eye, represent a substantial danger to all forms of life.

Plastic pollution is progressively infiltrating the human food chain, presenting unknown health risks. As we ingest plastic particles present in our water sources or consumed by marine life, the potential implications for our well-being remain largely unclear.

Harmful Effects on Aquatic Life and Beyond

Research demonstrates the detrimental and even lethal effects of microplastics on aquatic organisms. Fish populations suffer from reduced reproductive rates and stunted growth due to consuming plastic fragments instead of nutritious food.

The increasing human consumption of plastic is undoubtedly detrimental to health. Microplastics act as vectors, accumulating heavy metals and other pollutants, further exacerbating their harmful impact.

This pervasive, yet often unseen, pollution in soils poses a significant threat to sustaining life. Microplastics degrade soil fertility and diversity, diminishing the soil’s microbiome and reducing agricultural productivity. This presents a critical sustainability challenge given the growing global population.

Calyxia: A Greentech Solution to Microplastic Pollution

Paris-based greentech startup Calyxia believes it has a viable solution to the global microplastics problem. The company is leveraging innovative chemistry to address this planet-wide pollution crisis.

Calyxia has developed what it describes as “environmentally friendly” and “advanced performance” biodegradable microcapsule technology. This technology aims to reduce the amount of harmful microplastics released into the environment through human activities, contingent upon widespread adoption by manufacturers.

Securing Funding for Growth

Founded in 2015, the startup recently announced a €15 million (~$17.6 million) Series A funding round, led by impact investor Astanor Ventures. This funding will facilitate the launch of its first products this year.

Hendrik Van Asbroeck, partner at Astanor Ventures, stated that Calyxia’s technology will significantly decrease the impact of the agrifood, home care, and advanced materials industries, in addition to reducing microplastic pollution. He highlighted the team’s dedication, technological expertise, growing product pipeline, and eco-friendly manufacturing processes.

This funding brings Calyxia’s total raised capital to €23 million, including prior investments from business angels and grants from the European Commission and BPI France.

Initial Partnerships and Applications

Calyxia’s initial partners are focused on fast-moving consumer goods, specifically laundry liquids, and “crop protection” for agriculture.

The startup is collaborating with “leading” manufacturers – those ranking within the top three – in Europe and globally within these target sectors. While specific partner names remain confidential for commercial reasons, the laundry liquid partners are expected to be well-known household brands.

Commitment to Sustainable Practices

“Crop protection” encompasses a range of chemicals, including insecticides, herbicides, and pesticides, as well as enzymes, pheromones, and “bio-inputs.” Calyxia co-founder and CEO Jamie Walters emphasizes the company’s commitment to partnering only with producers of sustainable and safe products.

“Our company’s values – and our mission – are to build a safer, superior, and sustainable future for all,” says Walters. “Therefore, we do not collaborate with any pesticide deemed unsafe or unsustainable.”

This commitment excludes partnerships with producers of controversial weed killers linked to health concerns and environmental damage. Walters confirms that Calyxia will not work with the manufacturer of glyphosate.

Beyond Laundry and Agriculture: Caly-Shield Technology

Instead of relying on non-biodegradable plastic microcapsules, Calyxia offers its biodegradable microcapsule technology to reduce plastic pollution while maintaining product performance, such as long-lasting scents in laundry liquids or sustained crop protection.

Walters argues that utilizing the technology for crop protection can reduce the overall amount of pesticide used, potentially yielding broader environmental benefits.

However, he acknowledges that the use of fragranced laundry liquids lacks inherent benefits beyond scent, and may even contribute to allergies and other health issues.

The continued use of these products is largely driven by economic factors, as manufacturers aim to increase sales by offering appealing scents.

However, even these use cases represent only a fraction of the overall microplastics problem, which could potentially be addressed through complete elimination and replacement with less harmful alternatives.

Addressing the Root Cause of Microplastic Generation

While certain applications involving intentionally added microplastics have been banned – such as plastic microbeads in cosmetics – industry lobbying has complicated efforts to implement broader regulations.

The majority of microplastics originate from the wear and tear of larger plastic materials. Friction causes tiny fragments to break off and enter waterways, oceans, soils, and urban environments. Car tires, for example, are a significant source of micro-particles, posing health risks to city dwellers.

This is where Calyxia’s business model becomes particularly compelling. The startup has developed a version of its microcapsule technology that can be incorporated into other materials – plastics, coatings, foams – to enhance their wear resistance and reduce microplastic generation.

This approach offers broader benefits, including increased material lifespan and improved environmental performance.

“Primary microplastics added for specific benefits represent less than 17% of the total. The remaining 83% comes from the deterioration of plastics and rubbers,” explains Walters. “Our ingredient, added in small percentages, can increase material lifespan and wear resistance by tenfold, and reduce microplastic generation by over tenfold.”

Expanding Applications with Caly-Shield

With this versatile technology, Calyxia plans to introduce a new portfolio of plastic products – coatings, composites, foams, and plastics for automotive, sporting goods, and consumer goods applications.

The potential to limit unintentionally released microplastics with this technology is substantial.

Calyxia is releasing its broader microcapsule technology, Caly-Shield, this year. Its laundry fragrance product will be marketed as “enviro-caps,” while agricultural applications will utilize “natura-caps.”

“By increasing material wear resistance, you extend their lifespan, reducing the need for replacements and minimizing environmental impact,” Walters adds. “This technology will transform the material world.”

Addressing Concerns About Biodegradability

While biodegradable microplastics appear more promising than conventional plastics, concerns remain regarding their actual biodegradability. Some biodegradable plastic bags break down into smaller plastic fragments, creating more microplastics that persist in the environment.

Walters assures that Calyxia utilizes a novel manufacturing process allowing for diverse shell materials, and independent testing confirms the rapid disintegration of its biodegradable microcapsules.

“All microcapsules are currently produced using one process, resulting in polyurethane or polymelamine formaldehyde capsules… We have invented a sustainable process – energy and water efficient, aiming for carbon neutrality next year. This process is compatible with thousands of shell materials,” he explains.

“We use a specific material for the capsules, which we cannot disclose due to competitor activity, but independent testing regularly verifies compliance with the OECD 301 biodegradability test.”

“The capsules have been demonstrated to be fully biodegradable,” Walters confirms. Home-care microcapsules are tested for complete consumption by microbes in wastewater treatment facilities, while agricultural capsules undergo soil tests to assess biodegradation rates.

“We’ve confirmed through independent laboratory tests that the capsules are biodegradable and fully decompose into CO2 and oxygen.”

Advocating for Stronger Regulations

NGOs campaigning for EU regulations to ban microplastics have expressed concerns about industry lobbying creating loopholes and delaying legislative action.

Walters clarifies that Calyxia’s capsules are not nanoplastics or classified as microplastics, reiterating their biodegradability and lack of environmental impact.

“I agree with the NGO opposition to long transitional periods. Lobbyists are trying to extend them. Regulation should be enforced now, as biodegradable solutions are available. I also agree with the opposition to the broad definition of biodegradability. Lobbyists are attempting to broaden the original European Commission proposal. This is problematic.”

“The original proposal involved the OECD 301 B test, a strict biodegradability standard that many products fail. Calyxia capsules pass this test.”

“The European Commission should reduce the transition period and maintain a strict definition of biodegradability,” he urges.

Looking Ahead: A Holistic Approach to Microplastic Pollution

While Calyxia’s technology offers a promising solution for reducing new microplastic input, it cannot address existing pollution.

Walters acknowledges the need for further innovation to remove existing microplastics, recognizing that this legacy pollution may persist for centuries.

Scientists are developing enzymes capable of consuming plastic, and a “super enzyme” has been engineered to accelerate plastic degradation. Combining this with Calyxia’s technology – using microcapsules to deliver plastic-eating enzymes – could create a self-destruct mechanism for plastic products.

Ultimately, a more intelligent approach to materials is needed, considering the entire lifecycle of products and their end-of-life impact.

However, the higher upfront costs of eco-friendly interventions necessitate regulatory intervention to ensure environmental considerations are integrated into product development by default. Addressing microplastics requires a collective effort beyond a few “leading” brands.

“We’re not seeing people dying from microplastic pollution today, and we’re not seeing animals becoming extinct. But… if we leave this problem unsolved, within a decade or two, particularly with the rising population and growing consumerism, it could reach a critical point,” says Walters. “We can’t remove microplastics from the ocean. If it reaches a catastrophically high level of pollutants, it’s too late… We need to act now before it’s too late.”

“With Calyxia’s solution, we could eliminate microplastics in agriculture and laundry products and begin introducing it into materials worldwide. But it will take time. We need regulators in the U.S. and Asia to follow the European lead and start limiting microplastic generation and banning microplastics in those regions too.”

“If we can achieve that, global manufacturers will have no alternative but to change their practices – adopting Calyxia’s technology or finding other solutions.”