Cruz Foam
Cruz Foam is a Santa Cruz-based circular materials company producing compostable, chitin-based bio-foam packaging as a replacement for petroleum-based EPS and EPE foams. It sells through converter and distributor partners to serve cold chain, wine and spirits, electronics, and industrial protective packaging customers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2020
- HeadquartersSanta Cruz, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Cruz Foam does
Cruz Foam is a Santa Cruz, California-based circular materials company that develops and sells compostable, bio-based protective packaging foams as a direct replacement for petroleum-based expanded polystyrene (EPS) and polyethylene foam (EPE). Founded by surfers and chemical engineers, the company leverages a proprietary chitin-based biopolymer formulation derived from seafood shell waste and agricultural food fibers. Its product portfolio includes the core Cruz Foam block & brace material, Cruz Cool (a compostable cold chain shipper for perishables), and EcoVino (a wine and spirits shipping solution). Products are ASTM-certified compostable, Lomi-approved, and designed to work with existing foam conversion equipment.
Cruz Foam operates a capital-light, channel-mediated go-to-market. The company does not sell direct to end customers; instead, it sells and licenses its proprietary formulas to a network of converters and distributors—including Atlantic Packaging, Bay Cities Packaging & Design, and Unified2 Global Packaging Group—who convert Cruz Foam into finished protective packaging. End customers span cold chain perishable shippers (Wild Idea Buffalo), wine and spirits producers (Mondavi Sisters), consumer electronics (Amazon Robotics), appliances (Whirlpool), and coffee (Verve Coffee). Revenue derives from one-time material sales and product licensing/royalties, with quote-based, multi-year contractual pricing positioned as cost-competitive with EPS/EPE. The company is venture-backed, having raised approximately $18 million in Series A funding led by Helena in October 2022, and has been recognized on TIME's Best Inventions of 2023 and Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies of 2024.
Cruz Foam firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Cruz Foam
- Legal name
- Cruz Foam
- Website
- https://cruzfoam.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2020
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Cruz Foam is a Santa Cruz-based circular materials company producing compostable, chitin-based bio-foam packaging as a replacement for petroleum-based EPS and EPE foams. It sells through converter and distributor partners to serve cold chain, wine and spirits, electronics, and industrial protective packaging customers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Cruz Foam industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Sustainable Protective Packaging
- NAICS
- Urethane and Other Foam Product (except Polystyrene) Manufacturing (32615), Plastics Product Manufacturing (3261)
- SIC
- Plastics Foam Products (3086), Miscellaneous Plastics Products (3080)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Foam Protective Packaging (EPS/EPE/EPP, PU, Molded Foam) (IMALAFAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Foam Conversion & Fabrication (Cutting, Laminating, CNC, Packaging Inserts) (IMANAIAJ), Polymer Foams & Cellular Materials (PU Foams, EPS/XPS, Structural Foams) (IMAEANAL)
Keywords
Where Cruz Foam is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Santa Cruz
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Cruz Foam business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Bio-based Packaging Material Sales: Cruz Foam generates revenue through the sale of its proprietary compostable foam packaging materials. The company sells directly to converters and distributors who then serve end customers, as well as through partnership arrangements with packaging companies.
- Product Licensing: Cruz Foam licenses its proprietary formulas and technology to manufacturing partners for production and distribution of their packaging materials.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Custom packaging solutions priced based on volume, specifications, and partnership arrangement |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Cruz Foam product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Cruz Foam manufactures and sells proprietary compostable bio-foam packaging material made from chitin (seafood shell waste) and agricultural food waste fibers. The material serves as a direct replacement for petroleum-based EPS and EPE plastic foams and is sold as Cruz Foam™ (block & brace), Cruz Cool™ (cold chain insulated shippers), and EcoVino™ (wine & spirits shipping) through a network of converters and distributors.
Product overview
Cruz Foam offers a portfolio of compostable, earth-digestible bio-foam packaging solutions derived from chitin (seafood shell waste) and agricultural food waste fibers. The core product is Cruz Foam™, the world's first commercially scaled bio-foam replacing petroleum-based EPS/EPE plastics. The product line includes Cruz Cool™ for cold chain perishable shipping (named TIME's Best Invention 2023), EcoVino™ for wine and spirits shipping in partnership with Bay Cities, and Block & Brace protective packaging for impact-sensitive goods. All products are designed to be compostable alternatives that gracefully disintegrate after use, replacing traditional plastic foams across multiple industries including food & beverage, wine & spirits, electronics, and industrial packaging.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- EcoVino: A groundbreaking wine shipping solution crafted from compostable Cruz Foam and recyclable corrugated cardboard, designed for environmentally conscious wineries. EcoVino provides impact and thermal protection for wine bottles and is available in Premium, Everyday, and Champagne options.
- Cruz Cool
Products and services
- Cruz Foam™ The world's first commercially scaled bio-foam made from chitin (derived from seafood shells) and food waste fibers, sold as a direct replacement for petroleum-based EPS and EPE plastic foams; compostable, earth-digestible, and designed to gracefully disintegrate after use. Sold to converters and distributors serving electronics, appliances, and industrial block & brace applications.
- Cruz Cool™ Sustainable compostable insulated cold chain shipper designed for temperature-sensitive perishable goods, maintaining optimal temperatures for over 48 hours. Replaces traditional Styrofoam coolers for shipping of seafood, meats, pharmaceuticals, and other frozen perishables.
- EcoVino™ 100% sustainable wine bottle shipping solution combining compostable Cruz Foam insulation with recyclable corrugated cardboard. Available in Premium, Everyday, and Champagne variants, providing impact cushioning and thermal protection for wine bottle shipping.
- Block & Brace Protective Packaging High-performance protective packaging in block & brace format for shipping of impact-sensitive goods, designed as a 1:1 replacement for EPE foam blocks in e-commerce and industrial applications including Amazon Robotics packaging deployments.
Quantifiable outcome
- Compostable alternative to EPS/EPE that maintains optimal temperatures for over 48 hours in cold chain applications
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Cruz Foam
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Cruz Foam technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Cruz Foam partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic and minor.
- Bay Cities Packaging & DesigncoreBay Cities partnered with Cruz Foam to create EcoVino, the wine industry's most sustainable shipping solution. Bay Cities is FSC and SFI certified, uses eco-friendly food-safe water-based inks, and has facilities in Los Angeles, Chicago, San Jose, and Bentonville, AR.
- LVMHstrategicCruz Foam was awarded a place in LVMH's exclusive startup acceleration program for sustainable innovation (LVMH Startup House), recognizing innovative materials for luxury goods packaging.
- Atlantic PackagingcoreAtlantic Packaging is Cruz Foam's primary go-to-market partner for cold chain products. They converted Cruz Foam into die-cut coolers for Wild Idea Buffalo. Atlantic is the largest privately-held industrial packaging solutions company in North America and runs the A New Earth Project.
- Unified2 Global Packaging GroupcoreUnified2 Global Packaging Group, one of the largest independent protective packaging manufacturers nationwide (headquartered in Sutton, Massachusetts), converted Cruz Foam into a 1:1 EPE block & brace replacement for Amazon Robotics.
- Re-NubleminorCruz Foam partnered with NYC-based agriculture technology company Re-Nuble to develop new products for indoor farming using upcycled materials.
- Sustainable Ocean Alliance (SOA)strategicCruz Foam joined SOA's accelerator in 2019 as part of the second class of startups. CEO John Felts is an active member of SOA's Ecopreneur Network. SOA supports ocean-focused startups working on sustainable solutions.
- Plug and PlayminorCruz Foam was part of Plug and Play technology accelerator's Spring Summit 2018, focusing on circular economy ventures.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Cruz Foam competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Sonoco Products: Global diversified packaging manufacturer with protective, cold chain, and industrial packaging offerings. Operates broadly in the same end markets as Cruz Foam and has been investing in sustainable and recycled-content packaging, positioning it as both a potential competitor and acquirer.
- Pactiv Evergreen: Major North American manufacturer of foodservice and food merchandising packaging, including EPS foam products. Direct incumbent in the EPS market Cruz Foam is replacing, with the scale, distribution, and customer relationships to either compete or acquire bio-foam entrants.
- Sealed Air: Large global packaging incumbent (Bubble Wrap, Cryovac) with a broad portfolio including protective and cold chain packaging. Serves many of the same end customers as Cruz Foam and has been expanding sustainable alternatives, representing a major competitive threat as it scales bio-based lines.
Direct peers
- Loliware: U.S.-based startup producing seaweed-based compostable packaging, including straws and food-service items. Direct peer competing in the bio-based, single-use-plastic replacement category with a similarly sustainability-led go-to-market.
- Notpla: UK-based maker of seaweed-based biodegradable packaging films and coatings that replace single-use plastic. Direct peer in the bio-based packaging space, with a similar mission of replacing petroleum-based packaging using naturally sourced feedstocks, though Notpla focuses on films rather than rigid foam.
- TemperPack: U.S.-based manufacturer of insulated cold chain packaging, including compostable and recyclable insulated shippers that compete directly with Cruz Cool. Comparable customer base in perishable goods shipping and similar regulatory tailwinds from EPS bans.
- LifeMade Products: Manufacturer of bio-based and compostable packaging products, including EPS alternatives, serving cold chain, e-commerce, and food packaging customers. Directly comparable in product offering, regulatory positioning, and customer verticals.
- Ecovative Design: U.S.-based company using mycelium (mushroom root) to grow protective packaging as a direct replacement for EPS foam. Closest direct competitor in the bio-foam protective packaging space, with comparable customers and sustainability positioning, though using a different biological feedstock.
- MycoTechnology (formerly MycoComposite / Mushroom Packaging): Mycelium-based packaging producer operating in the same bio-foam protective packaging category as Cruz Foam, supplying molded protective inserts to replace EPS. Directly comparable product offering and target customers.
Regional players
- Atlas Molded Products: U.S.-based manufacturer of EPS and EPP molded foam protective packaging serving industrial, construction, and cold chain applications. Directly competes with Cruz Foam's Block & Brace product in the protective packaging category, primarily in North America.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Cruz Foam social profiles
Digital presenceCruz Foam compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Cruz Foam financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Cruz Foam leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Cruz Foam funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds10 records
Investors14 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Cruz Foam M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Cruz Foam
What does Cruz Foam do?
Cruz Foam manufactures and sells proprietary compostable bio-foam packaging material made from chitin (seafood shell waste) and agricultural food waste fibers. The material serves as a direct replacement for petroleum-based EPS and EPE plastic foams and is sold as Cruz Foam™ (block & brace), Cruz Cool™ (cold chain insulated shippers), and EcoVino™ (wine & spirits shipping) through a network of converters and distributors.
Is Cruz Foam a public or private company?
Cruz Foam is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Cruz Foam founded?
Cruz Foam was founded in 2020. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Cruz Foam based?
Cruz Foam is headquartered in Santa Cruz, United States, in the North America region.
How does Cruz Foam make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Bio-based Packaging Material Sales are the primary driver. The others are product Licensing.
Who are Cruz Foam's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Sonoco Products, Pactiv Evergreen and Sealed Air. Direct peers are Loliware, Notpla, TemperPack, LifeMade Products, Ecovative Design and MycoTechnology (formerly MycoComposite / Mushroom Packaging). Atlas Molded Products is listed as a regional player.
Does Cruz Foam have an API?
No public API is recorded for Cruz Foam.
What industry is Cruz Foam in?
Cruz Foam's product category is Sustainable Protective Packaging. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMALAFAA, Foam Protective Packaging (EPS/EPE/EPP, PU, Molded Foam), with a secondary code of IMANAIAJ, Foam Conversion & Fabrication (Cutting, Laminating, CNC, Packaging Inserts). Its NAICS code is 32615 and its SIC code is 3086.