Naturbeads Secures €4.1M EU Funding To Develop Biodegradable Microbeads

The funding comes from the European Structural Fund, which backs economic and social development initiatives across selected regions.

The project will be based in Puglia, a region gaining recognition for its skilled workforce and growing focus on innovation, business growth, and digital transformation.

Founded in 2018 as a spin-out from the University of Bath by Professor Davide Mattia, the late Professor Janet Scott, and CEO Giovanna Laudisio, Naturbeads is developing a biodegradable alternative to microplastics using cellulose, a natural plant-based material.

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The company has created a patented process to transform cellulose into uniform microspheres, designed to replace plastic microbeads in everyday products.

With upcoming EU regulations set to restrict microplastics starting with rinse-off cosmetics in 2027 and expanding to other products through 2035 Naturbeads expects strong demand for sustainable alternatives.

Its cellulose microbeads are currently being tested across industries, including cosmetics, paints, coatings, adhesives, and packaging. The company states that its beads are fully biodegradable while matching the performance of traditional plastic microbeads.

Naturbeads is now commercialising a continuous manufacturing process and has built its first production facility in Italy targeting a product launch in 2026. The latest funding will help offset construction costs and support ongoing research and development as the company moves toward full-scale commercialisation.

“Due to its versatility and durability, tiny microspheres of plastic are a popular ingredient in a range of everyday products. For example, they’re routinely found in makeup that stays on your skin for only a few hours … but when you wash your face, they end up in the drain and from there in the oceans where they last for centuries.

“Tiny particles of plastic are found in our food, our bodies – they’ve even been discovered in Antarctica – and are putting at risk both our personal health and the health of the planet,” commented Giovanna Laudisio, CEO of Naturbeads.

About Naturbeads

Naturbeads is a sustainability-focused materials company developing biodegradable cellulose microspheres to replace microplastics. Its plant-based particles are renewable and tested across cosmetics, coatings, adhesives and packaging. The company is scaling production with its first facility in Italy targeting commercial launch in 2026 to support greener industrial and consumer applications