Cellugy has secured €8.1 million to eradicate microplastics in personal care products and transition to bio-based alternatives.WHO: Søborg, Denmark-based Cellugy was founded in 2018 as a pioneering industrial biotechnology company transforming how materials are made, starting with the elimination of petrochemicals in everyday products. The company leverages a proprietary fermentation platform, EcoFLEXY, to produce high-performing, biodegradable cellulose materials crafted by nature and refined by science. Engineered from bacteria and designed with the principles of green chemistry, the solutions offer a safe, sustainable alternative to fossil-based ingredients. Cellugy has spent seven years rigorously advancing its science to meet the performance demands of industry, beginning with cosmetics and personal care, where EcoFLEXY is poised to replace microplastics and redefine formulation standards.WHY: The fresh capital will support scaling up the production of its biofabricated cellulose-based rheology modifier material, EcoFLEXY. Rheology modifiers are essential to all personal care products, but almost 70% of the 2.8-billion-euro rheology modifier market is dependent on fossil-based carbomers and acrylates, which are listed under the EU’s REACH regulation because of their persistent and toxic nature.IN THEIR OWN WORDS: “An alternative material that simply aims to be more sustainable is not enough; the critical challenge is about delivering bio-based solutions that actually outperform petrochemicals in performance parameters like texture, functionality, and user experience, while also being scalable and operationally efficient,” explained Dr.