Funders back cellulose roll-out at industrial scale

Multiple clear Petri dishes in lab setting on off-white surface, some containing bright white powder or liquid, others green pine-like leaves.

Heavyweight funding success means bio-based materials innovator can start the roll-out of fully validated procurement-ready cellulose for industry, with over 100 customer organisations waiting in the pipeline.

Global brand franchise, development and supply giant Inter IKEA Group has backed a €13.4M Series A for Swiss biomaterials company Seprify, which is scaling a cellulose-based alternative to titanium dioxide.

Seprify’s innovative process transforms cellulose, the world’s most abundant biopolymer, into high-performance, plant-based functional ingredients, for use across cosmetics, food and coatings.

Its nature-inspired technology delivers safe, biodegradable alternatives to conventional whiteners and texturisers, enabling brands to reduce reliance on titanium dioxide and fossil-based polymers.

Scalable bio-based substitutes

Pot of cosmetic moisturiser-style cream pictured with lid off and tilted to side, on blue surface with white towel along left edge of photo. — *Customers are already lined up across multiple sectors, including cosmetics and personal care, food and beverage, coatings and paints*

Close-up of female hands stirring white icing in metal dish, whisk nearby on striped tablecloth, plus ring doughnuts on cooling tray, some glazed. — *Customers are already lined up across multiple sectors, including cosmetics and personal care, food and beverage, coatings and paints*

The backing comes as manufacturers accelerate reformulation following regulatory pressure on materials like titanium dioxide and synthetic microplastics, increasing demand for scalable bio-based substitutes.

Seprify’s sustainable material roll-out supports a range of industries, including: cosmetics and personal care (with a 100% natural UV booster for skin and suncare); food and beverages; pet food; pharma and nutraceuticals; coatings, paints and inks; plus additional engineered applications in development.

Its cellulose particle platform creates whiteness and opacity by engineering microstructures that scatter light. After more than two years of industrial testing, the technology is now set to start commercial supply.

Procurement-ready industrial supply

The transition from pilot validation into procurement-ready industrial supply is a gamechanger, as it enables manufacturers to go from trials to repeatable sourcing and longer-term commercial agreements.

Supported by Inter IKEA Group, Seprify’s cellulose platform has been validated at technology readiness levels (TRL) 7–9 through hands-on collaboration with industry partners. It is now progressing through supplier qualification processes, early commercial contracts and procurement discussions.

To support this transition, Seprify raised €13.4 million (CHF 12.25 million) in Series A funding from a mix of strategic and financial investors with experience in industrial scale-up. The round includes participation from Inter IKEA Group, alongside investors Una Terra Early Growth Fund, Zürcher Kantonalbank (ZKB), Cambridge Enterprise Ventures, Kickfund, and other circular-economy-aligned investors.

Cosmetics to food, coatings and paint

With the new capital, Seprify is now in a position to scale commercial production to hundreds of tonnes per year through established manufacturing partners, successfully supporting commercial roll-out across its priority markets, as well as being able to advance engineering work for future industrial-scale capacity.

This funding shifts the focus to execution and scale, explains Lukas Schertel, Co-founder & CEO of Seprify:

“Our immediate priority is delivering consistent quality and reliable supply, meeting the operational standards large industrial customers require. In the near term, that means supporting cosmetics and personal care, including suncare, as well as food and pet food. We are also scaling for higher-volume applications such as coatings, inks and printed electronics, reflecting the broader potential of our cellulose platform.”

Such potential is truly investible, says Robert Carleke, Innovation Ventures Manager at Inter IKEA Group:

“We look for solutions that can realistically replace high-impact incumbent materials while fitting into existing manufacturing and recycling systems. Seprify’s cellulose platform has reached a level of maturity that makes this a credible path to explore — not only for specific applications such as coatings and surface finishes, but as a scalable materials platform with the consistency and operational readiness required for industrial use.”

Application-ready product families — SilvaLuma, SilvaAlba, and SilvaFolia — are supplied in powder or liquid formats to fit diverse formulations. By combining bio-based materials science with scalable, energy-efficient processing, Seprify helps manufacturers create cleaner, more sustainable products without trade-offs.

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