Cruz Foam
Cruz Foam is a circular materials company that produces a unique bio-benign foam material made from chitin, a biopolymer found in shrimp shells, as a sustainable alternative to EPE (expanded polyethylene) and EPS (expanded polystyrene).[1] Cruz Foam’s patented formula is ASTM D6400 & ASTM D6868 tested,[2][3] compostable, and matches the technical strength, protective properties, and insulative characteristics of petroleum-based foam at a similar price.[4][5]
Overview
Headquartered in Santa Cruz, California, Cruz Foam has developed a sustainable alternative to petroleum-based foam.[6] The material is derived from naturally sourced ingredients and existing supply chains[7] to produce a bio-benign packaging foam solution.[8]
Cruz Foam produces a collection of compostable packaging products by utilizing the seafood industry waste stream in combination with other natural ingredients.[9] These products have comparable mechanical properties and thermal insulation capabilities to expanded polystyrene (EPS) and expanded polyethylene (EPE).[10]
Cruz Foam has been tested by Pela Earth Lomi home composting system and is Lomi approved, making it the first material to receive a perfect score of 100.[11]
Process
Using a patented process, Cruz Foam has developed a novel formula from natural ingredients that can be extruded into a wide variety of packaging solutions.[12] It is an earth-digestible solution that is pelletized and then run on existing manufacturing equipment and facilities. The material’s technical characteristics can vary depending on the preferred properties of the final product. Chitin can be processed and formed into a biopolymer material that can be made with properties similar to conventional petroleum-based plastics.[13] Cruz Foam holds patents for biodegradable foams,[14] organic polymer processing,[15] and biodegradable foam with laminate layers.[16]
History
Cruz Foam was founded in 2017 by John Felts and Marco Rolandi.[17] The company began in a basement laboratory at Baskin Engineering, where Felts, an electrical and computer engineering (ECE) PhD student at the time, made the first foam.[18] Cruz Foam was one of the first companies hosted and supported by Startup Sandbox, a bioscience incubator. In July 2019, Cruz Foam left Startup Sandbox, moved to a temporary facility, and later moved to the Wrigley Building on Mission Street in Santa Cruz.[19] The same year, Cruz Foam was part of the Accelerator at Sea program, supported by the Sustainable Ocean Alliance (SOA) funding by investors such as Lynn and Marc Benioff.[20]
In July 2022, Cruz Foam produced an agricultural tech (“ag-tech”) product for Re-Nuble to create indoor farming grow media from its patented foam formula.[21]
In February 2023, Cruz Foam formally introduced its new packaging products line. These products include Cruz Wrap- a foam and paper wrap that can replace bubble wrap or polystyrene foam peanuts, Cruz Pack- a foam-padded mailer, Cruz Cool- foam coolers that can protect and keep fresh and frozen items cold, and Cruz Crush- foam products that protect large items like electronics, appliances, and furniture. All standalone Cruz Foam products can be composted and all products adhered to paper are curbside recyclable.[22][23]
Funding
In October of 2022, Cruz Foam raised $18M in Series A funding round led by the problem-solving group, Helena. The round was joined by One Small Planet, Regeneration.VC, At One Ventures, and SoundWaves.[24]
In April 2022, Cruz Foam raised a $3.4m seed with Leonardo DiCaprio and Ashton Kutcher, who joined Cruz Foam as advisors.[25][26][27]
In November 2021, Cruz Foam raised $2.5m in a seed funding round led by At One Ventures with other participants, including Sony Innovation Fund, Regeneration.VC, and some environmentally-focused private investors.[28][29] There was an additional $1.5M from the NSF.
In March 2020, Cruz Foam received $1.2m in funding from private financiers and a $225,000 grant from the National Science Foundation.[30][31]
Patents
Biodegradable foams - Patent WO2019217268A1
Abstract:
A composite material includes a polymer matrix with a polymer having D-glucosamine monomer units and 50% or fewer N-acetyl-D-glucosamine monomer units. A salt can be disposed in the polymer matrix. A dispersed phase is disposed in the polymer matrix with the salt, and the dispersed phase and the polymer matrix form a porous composite foam. The porous composite foam includes, by weight, 0.5 - 3 times the dispersed phase to the polymer matrix, and the porous composite foam has a density of less than 1 g/cm3.
Classifications
C08L5/08 Chitin; Chondroitin sulfate; Hyaluronic acid; Derivatives thereof.
Organic polymer processing - Patent WO2021086787A1
Abstract:
A method of forming foam includes providing a foam with at least one of chitosan, chitin, or chitosan oligosaccharide, where the foam has a density of 1 g/cm3 or less. The method further includes placing the foam between tooling, applying heat to the foam, and pressing the foam into a shape using the tooling.
Classifications
B29C44/5636 After-treatment of articles, e.g. for altering the shape by mechanical deformation, e.g. crushing, embossing, stretching with the addition of heat
Biodegradable foam with laminate layers - Patent WO2020237205A1
Abstract:
A composite material includes a porous foam, having a density of less than 1 g/cm3, with a polymer matrix including chitosan, chitin, or chitosan oligosaccharide, and a first laminate adhered to a first surface of the porous foam.
Classifications
B32B5/18 Layered products characterized by the non-homogeneity or physical structure, i.e. comprising a fibrous, filamentary, particulate, or foam layer; layered products characterized by having a layer differing constitutionally or physically in different parts characterized by features of a layer of foamed material
Recognition
Global Fisheries Innovation Award, 2022[32] Global Green Business Award, 2021[33] A finalist in Rabobank’s Foodbytes 2021 program, Supporting Startup Companies Innovating in Food Industry Technology[34] Selected as one of the three finalists by the Sustainable Packaging Coalition (SPC) for its packaging innovations, 2020[35] Innovative Business of the Year, 2023 Santa Cruz NEXTies[36]
References
- ↑ https://techcrunch.com/sponsor/cruzfoam/eliminating-styrofoam-protective-packaging/
- ↑ https://www.eventsantacruz.com/leonardo-dicaprio-ashton-kutcher-join-cruz-foam-as-advisors/
- ↑ https://news.ucsc.edu/2022/04/cruzfoam-star-investors.html
- ↑ https://progressivegrocer.com/turning-toward-guilt-free-plastic-packaging
- ↑ https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffkart/2018/05/14/cruz-foam-made-from-shrimp-shells-could-help-keep-beaches-clean/?sh=346798544e37
- ↑ https://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/news/2019/02/04/cruz-foam-biodegradable-plastic-alternative.html
- ↑ https://www.greenbiz.com/article/meet-5-startups-disrupting-supply-chains-and-materials?fbclid=IwAR1VIhKwsw51XZYAbJ3UdzPdFQ1shtBkVLTzmkpjwvWxkZcuS-m82mtlJZ4
- ↑ https://dailybusinesspost.com/how-to-reduce-plastic-consumption-at-home/
- ↑ https://techcrunch.com/2019/01/23/meet-the-startups-in-alchemists-20th-cohort/
- ↑ https://www.voanews.com/a/shellfish-exoskeletons-a-packaging-alternative-to-toxic-plastic-foam/6401527.html
- ↑ https://newshubfeed.com/general/understanding-the-need-for-resilient-climate-action
- ↑ https://techwires.co/why-are-astm-tested-compostable-materials-important-in-the-fight-against-single-use-plastics/
- ↑ https://www.packagingdigest.com/ecommercesupply-chain/protective-packaging-ecommerce-moves-closer-sustainability
- ↑ https://patents.google.com/patent/WO2019217268A1/en?q=(cruz+foam)&inventor=john+felts&before=priority:20230101&after=priority:20170101
- ↑ https://patents.google.com/patent/WO2021086787A1/en?q=(cruz+foam)&inventor=john+felts&before=priority:20230101&after=priority:20170101
- ↑ https://patents.google.com/patent/WO2020237205A1/en?q=(cruz+foam)&inventor=john+felts&before=priority:20230101&after=priority:20170101
- ↑ https://techcrunch.com/sponsor/cruzfoam/eliminating-styrofoam-protective-packaging/
- ↑ https://thedieline.com/blog/2021/5/24/material-highlight-cruz-foam-aims-to-replace-styrofoam-with-biodegradable-alternative
- ↑ https://news.ucsc.edu/2022/04/cruzfoam-star-investors.html
- ↑ https://www.soalliance.org/startups/2019
- ↑ https://www.santacruzsentinel.com/2020/03/15/cruz-foam-receives-1-2-million-in-funding/
- ↑ https://www.cnbc.com/2023/02/08/cruz-foam-makes-styrofoam-alternative-from-shrimp-shells-food-waste.html
- ↑ https://www.recyclingtoday.com/news/cruz-foams-new-packaging-products-to-become-available-through-atlantic-packaging-partnership/
- ↑ https://techcrunch.com/2022/10/28/cruz-foams-chitin-based-packaging-brings-in-18m-as-industries-scramble-to-go-green/
- ↑ https://agfundernews.com/re-nuble-partners-with-cruz-foam-to-upcycle-seafood-waste
- ↑ https://www.forbes.com/sites/annefield/2022/04/20/with-leonardo-dicaprio-as-an-advisor-45-million-circularregenerative-economy-fund-launches/?sh=7d47e9a25700
- ↑ https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/innovative-packaging-solution-cruz-foam-advances-manufacturing-with-the-support-of-new-investors-301527474.html
- ↑ https://techcrunch.com/2022/04/20/cruz-foams-shell-based-styrofoam-alternative-brings-in-3-5m-seed-with-dicaprio-and-kutcher/
- ↑ https://www.finsmes.com/2021/11/cruz-foam-raises-2-5m-in-seed-funding.html
- ↑ https://news.ucsc.edu/2022/04/cruzfoam-star-investors.html
- ↑ https://www.forbes.com/sites/annefield/2022/04/20/with-leonardo-dicaprio-as-an-advisor-45-million-circularregenerative-economy-fund-launches/?sh=7d47e9a25700
- ↑ https://www.santacruzworks.org/news/2022-global-fisheries-innovation-award-cruz-foam
- ↑ https://www.acquisition-international.com/winners/cruz-foam/
- ↑ https://progressivegrocer.com/turning-toward-guilt-free-plastic-packaging
- ↑ https://www.waste360.com/sustainability/entrepreneurs-spin-new-packaging-innovations
- ↑ https://lookout.co/santacruz/partners/marketing/story/2023-02-07/honorees-for-2023-nexties-announced-featuring-mak-nova-cruz-foam-jessica-yarr-and-more#:~:text=Community%20Builder%20of%20the%20Year,of%20the%20Year%20%2D%20Cruz%20Foam
