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Carbon Cell secures £1.2m pre-seed led by Green Angel Ventures and Counteract to scale carbon-negative foam

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Carbon Cell
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Elizabeth Lee; Ori Blich; Eden Harrison; Juan Ignacio Rion
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£1.2m
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London, United Kingdom
May 13, 2025

Carbon Cell, a materials innovation company, has raised £1.2m in a pre-seed round to scale its novel, plastic-free foam made from biochar and natural polymers. This round was led by Green Angel Ventures and Counteract, with participation from HERmesa, RCA Design and Innovation S/EIS Fund, and One Planet Capital.

At the core of Carbon Cell’s solution is biochar, a carbon-rich material made from agricultural waste that would otherwise be burned or left to decompose. Combined with natural polymers, this creates a high-performance, fully compostable foam that not only avoids plastics and petrochemicals but also boasts a negative carbon footprint because of the carbon captured within the biochar used to make the material.

With growing regulatory momentum and demand for sustainable packaging, Carbon Cell is initially targeting the packaging sector, and producing block foam for modelling in TV/theatre and industrial design, with future applications in insulation and advanced composites.

This funding will support Carbon Cell in scaling manufacturing of its expandable foam pellets, partnering with manufacturers to run foam expansion tests, and delivering larger-scale commercial pilots in the packaging sector.

Traditional foams have dominated for too long at the expense of our environment. At Carbon Cell, we’re rethinking materials from the ground up, creating a carbon-negative foam that performs today and protects tomorrow. This investment will help us take the next big step in scaling production and bringing Carbon Cell to market.
Elizabeth Lee, Co-founder & CEO
We are very pleased to have invested in Carbon Cell, a company that is redefining what sustainable materials can achieve. Their carbon-negative, compostable foam doesn’t just replace plastic; it outperforms it, offering strength, insulation, and fire resistance while actively removing CO₂ from the atmosphere. By transforming waste biomass into high-performance packaging, Carbon Cell proves that climate innovation can deliver real-world impact. This is the kind of breakthrough that we believe will drive a circular, net-zero future.
Cam Ross, CEO of Green Angel Ventures
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