Emerald Technology Ventures has announced the launch of a fund focused on sustainable packaging that aims to catalyze leaps in the advanced materials and industrials technology to benefit the planet and earn significant returns.
Beiersdorf, Chevron, Henkel and WM will join the fund as founding limited partners.
Emerald will seek investments in sectors across all stages of the circular economy ranging from raw materials to plastics recycling.
The fund aims to invest in early stage and fast-growing startups around the world, with an allocation for a select number of seed investments.
The fund will target investments in the following six categories:
- Low footprint feedstocks
- Functional and smart materials
- Design for reuse and recycle
- Collection, sorting, cleaning and recycling technologies
- Digital and connected solutions
- New business models (eg, packaging as a service)
Gina Domanig, Emerald managing partner, said, "The fund is a recognition that the packaging industry plays an increasingly proactive role in the shift toward a circular, low-carbon economy. As we reimagine the future of packaging, we’re excited to join with giants of the global industrial landscape in a mission to supercharge the technologies that will make that transformation a success.”
Michael Becker, head of global packaging R&D at Beiersdorf, said, "As part of our corporate transformation towards sustainability, the packaging of our products plays a central role. As a partner of Emerald Technology Ventures, we aim to collaborate with dedicated start-ups to identify and implement new climate-friendly packaging technologies. This collaboration contributes to our global sustainable packaging ambition and overall sustainability agenda. We share the vision of a circular economy and will, together, move this vision towards reality.”
Jim Gable, vice president of innovation and president of technology ventures for Chevron, said, "Emerald Technology Ventures’ sustainable packaging fund has the potential to drive the wider adoption of a lower carbon circular economy. It aligns well with our Future Energy Fund, which focuses on industrial decarbonization, emerging mobility, energy decentralization and the growing circular economy. We’re an existing partner in Emerald’s industrial innovation fund and glad to support this new sustainable packaging fund.”
Paolo Bavaj, head of corporate venturing at Henkel Adhesive Technologies, said, "Packaging is among our core businesses at Henkel and sustainability has been an integral part of our strategy for decades. Over the course of our partnership with Emerald, we have become familiar with their skilled and diversified team of experts. We are convinced that they are a strong partner who can help us gain access to startups in a broad variety of fields, from material and technology innovation to recycling improvement.”
