Pulpex
Pulpex is a UK-based packaging technology company that licenses its patented wet-moulding fibre bottle technology to manufacturers and global CPG brands. Founded in 2020, it serves beverage, consumer goods, beauty, and lubricants sectors with sustainable, PET-free packaging.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2020
- HeadquartersCambridge, United Kingdom
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Pulpex does
Pulpex is a UK-based packaging technology company founded in 2020 that has developed a patented, single-piece fibre-based bottle. The technology uses a wet-moulding process to form containers from over 90% sustainably sourced wood pulp, internally sprayed with proprietary food-grade coatings, and the company holds BRCGS, FSC, PEFC, and ISO 22000 certifications. The bottles are PET-free and HDPE-free, recyclable through standard paper/card streams, and Pulpex claims a 90% lower carbon footprint than glass and 30% lower than PET. Headquartered in Sawston, Cambridgeshire, with a manufacturing facility under construction near Glasgow Airport, the company is led by CEO Sandy Westwater (co-founder of Pilot Lite Group) alongside CFO Simon Haworth and CTO Euan Burns.
Pulpex monetizes its patented technology through a licensing model, partnering with manufacturers to deploy production at scale and working directly with global brand owners on custom bottle design. Brand-owner partners span beverage (Diageo, PepsiCo), consumer goods (Unilever), consumer health (Haleon), lubricants (Castrol), beauty (Estée Lauder, L'Oréal via L'AcceleratOR), and food (Kraft Heinz). Distribution combines a global licensing network of sustainability scaling partners (BASF, Stora Enso, Solenis, Motus, Delta Engineering, Biocomposites Centre) with exclusive regional partnerships such as the Perlen Industrieholding AG deal covering the DACH region. The company also operates Pulpex Home, a consumer-facing platform explaining sustainable packaging.
The business is in a capital-intensive build phase: cumulative disclosed funding exceeds $100M, anchored by a 2023 Series C led by CMPC, Diageo, and Pilot Lite Capital, and a 2025 equity injection of £43.5 million from the National Wealth Fund alongside Scottish National Investment Bank participation. The Glasgow facility targets 50 million bottles annually, scaling from an initial 12.5 million-bottle UK production line that began commercial output in Q1 2024, with management stating an ambition of enabling over 2 billion paper bottles globally by 2028. Revenue is not publicly disclosed, and the company has not yet reached broad commercial scale.
Pulpex firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Pulpex
- Legal name
- Pulpex Limited
- Website
- https://pulpex.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2020
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Pulpex is a UK-based packaging technology company that licenses its patented wet-moulding fibre bottle technology to manufacturers and global CPG brands. Founded in 2020, it serves beverage, consumer goods, beauty, and lubricants sectors with sustainable, PET-free packaging.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Pulpex industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Sustainable Packaging
- NAICS
- Corrugated and Solid Fiber Box Manufacturing (322211)
- SIC
- Paper Mills (2621)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Fiber-Based Sustainable Packaging (Recycled Paper, Molded Fiber, Bagasse) (IMALAMAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Molded Fiber & Pulp Packaging (Trays, Clamshells, Cups) (IMAMAKAJ)
Keywords
Where Pulpex is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cambridge
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Pulpex business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Technology Licensing: Pulpex licenses its proprietary, patented technology to manufacturers who produce Pulpex bottles. Manufacturers can acquire equipment to produce bottles using the company's technology under license agreements. This enables deployment at industrial scale through partner network.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels3 records
Pulpex product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Pulpex develops and licenses a patented fibre-based bottle technology made from over 90% sustainably sourced wood pulp. The company partners with manufacturers under license to produce PET-free, recyclable single-piece fibre containers at industrial scale, and supplies custom and stock bottle designs to global consumer goods brands including Diageo, Unilever, PepsiCo, Haleon, Castrol, Estée Lauder, and Kraft Heinz.
Product overview
Pulpex is a packaging technology company offering a patented, first-of-its-kind fiber-based paper bottle as its core product. The company's primary offering is the Pulpex Fiber-Based Paper Bottle made from over 90% sustainably sourced wood pulp that is PET-free, recyclable through standard paper recycling streams, and has a 90% lower carbon footprint than glass and 30% lower than PET. The portfolio includes stock bottle formats for quick launch and custom bottle design services with branding options (pigments, embossing, printing). Pulpex licenses its proprietary technology to manufacturers under license for global deployment, enabling industrial-scale production. The company also operates Pulpex Home as a consumer-facing platform. Production facilities include a Sawston-based R&D site in Cambridgeshire, UK, and a major manufacturing facility near Glasgow Airport with capacity for 50 million bottles annually, partially funded by a £43.5 million investment from the National Wealth Fund.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Pulpex Fibre-Based Paper Bottle Patented single-piece fibre bottle made from over 90% sustainably sourced wood pulp, PET-free and HDPE-free, recyclable through standard paper/card recycling streams, with a 90% lower carbon footprint than glass and 30% lower than PET. Designed for global consumer goods brands across beverages, personal care, beauty, lubricants, and food.
- Stock Bottle Formats Three standard stock bottle shapes and specifications available for quick launch, enabling brand partners to transition from glass and plastic to fibre packaging without waiting for custom tooling.
- Custom Bottle Design Services Bespoke bottle shape development in collaboration with corporate brand partners, including sustainable coloured pigments, embossing/debossing, labelling, and direct-to-shape printing options, to translate brand identity into identifiable Pulpex bottles.
- Licensed Manufacturing Technology Patented wet-moulding and proprietary food-grade coating manufacturing technology licensed to packaging manufacturers, who acquire equipment to produce Pulpex bottles under license agreements at industrial scale.
Quantifiable outcome
- 90% lower carbon footprint than glass bottles
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Pulpex
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Pulpex technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature7 records
Pulpex partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.
- Perlen Industrieholding AGcoreWorld First exclusive partnership securing rights to produce novel fibre-based paper bottles in the extended DACH region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland), strengthening strategic development in fibre moulding-based packaging solutions.
- Robertson Construction Central WestsupportingConstruction partner that completed major milestone on new manufacturing facility near Glasgow Airport with capacity up to 50 million bottles annually. Worked closely with Pulpex since pre-construction.
- L'OréalcoreSelected Pulpex for inaugural L'AcceleratOR cohort - a €100 million sustainable innovation program run in partnership with University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership. 6-9 month intensive support phase with pilot projects.
- DiageocoreDiageo and Pilot Lite came together through substantial R&D collaboration to develop Pulpex. Diageo is part of its 10-year 'Spirit of Progress' action plan to help create a more inclusive and sustainable world. Diageo is a co-founder through its R&D collaboration.
- Pilot Lite CapitalcoreCo-founded Pulpex with Diageo through substantial R&D collaboration. Pilot Lite brings venture management and corporate sustainability experience to the partnership.
- UnilevercoreCorporate partner committed to reducing virgin plastic footprint by 40% by 2028. Developing world's first paper-based laundry detergent bottle with Pulpex as key part of sustainable packaging strategy.
- PepsiCocoreCorporate partner developing disruptive and innovative business models as part of pep+ (PepsiCo Positive) to transform the way the world thinks about packaging.
- HaleoncoreCorporate partner aiming to reduce use of virgin petroleum-based plastic by a third and develop solutions for all product packaging to be recyclable or reusable by 2030.
- CastrolcoreCorporate partner aiming to halve plastic footprint by 2030 as part of PATH360 Sustainability Strategy.
- The Estée Lauder CompaniescoreCorporate partner committed to 75-100% of packaging being recyclable, refillable, reusable, recycled or recoverable by 2025.
- Kraft HeinzcoreCorporate partner aiming to make all packaging globally recyclable, reusable or compostable by 2025.
- MotussupportingSustainability scaling partner bringing revolutionary ideas to life through technology, innovation, and commitment to customer success in the fiber molding industry.
- Delta EngineeringsupportingSustainability scaling partner specialized in downstream equipment for the plastics industry, offering complete range of evolving solutions for Pulpex manufacturing.
- BASFsupportingSustainability scaling partner and world's leading supplier of innovative materials for the packaging industry, providing expertise for Pulpex coatings and materials.
- Stora EnsosupportingSustainability scaling partner and leading global provider of renewable solutions in packaging, biomaterials and paper, supporting bioeconomy solutions.
- SolenissupportingSustainability scaling partner and leading international producer of specialty chemicals for pulp and paper packaging markets.
- Biocomposites CentresupportingSustainability scaling partner focused on research and development of bio-based alternatives to synthetic materials.
- RoboChallengesupportingCollaborated with Pulpex to develop sustainable paper bottle, providing design and manufacturing expertise. Scaled from small scale R&D machines to commercial equipment.
- AutodesksupportingAutodesk Fusion enabled the development and scaling of the fibre-based packaging solution through digital design capabilities.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Pulpex competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- CMPC: CMPC led Pulpex's Series C round and is itself a vertically integrated global pulp, paper, and packaging producer. Operates in the same moulded fibre / sustainable packaging category and could build competing internal technology.
- Stora Enso: Stora Enso is both a Pulpex sustainability partner and an independent producer of renewable fibre-based packaging including moulded fibre bottles for its own brand customers. Directly comparable as a global pulp-to-fibre-packaging competitor pursuing the same end-market.
- Paboco (Paper Bottle Company): Paboco is the most direct competitor to Pulpex, also developing patented wood-fibre paper bottles. The two are explicitly referenced together as innovators in the global fibre-bottle category, serving the same FMCG sustainability buyer with a comparable wet-moulded fibre bottle.
- Huhtamaki: Huhtamaki is a major global producer of moulded fibre packaging (egg cartons, food trays, clamshells) and fibre-based tableware. Its fibre moulding capability makes it a direct alternative for brands seeking fibre packaging, and a likely licence/customer candidate.
- Billerud: Billerud is a Swedish sustainable packaging company producing fibre-based packaging for FMCG and food/beverage customers. Comparable business model (renewable fibre packaging, large brand customers) and serves as an alternative supply source for brands evaluating moulded-fibre bottle alternatives to Pulpex.
Emerging players
- Notpla: Notpla is a UK-based sustainable packaging startup producing seaweed-based coatings and packaging alternatives. Targets the same FMCG and foodservice sustainability buyers with a different (non-fibre) alternative material, often considered alongside Pulpex by brand sustainability teams.
- Origin Materials: Origin Materials is a US-based sustainable materials company developing PET substitutes and bio-based packaging from wood residues. While focused on bio-PET/PTA rather than moulded fibre, it competes for the same brand sustainability capital and end-customers.
Broad incumbents
- Mondi: Mondi is a global packaging and paper group with a growing portfolio of sustainable, recyclable consumer packaging. Comparable in serving FMCG brand sustainability mandates, with the scale and R&D resources to develop competing fibre-bottle offerings.
- Tetra Pak: Tetra Pak is the dominant incumbent in liquid carton/packaging for beverages and liquid food. While not a moulded-fibre bottle producer, it competes for the same brand-customer sustainability budgets and is rapidly developing fibre-based alternatives that could substitute for Pulpex's proposition.
- Smurfit Westrock: Smurfit Westrock is the world's largest paper and packaging company post the 2024 merger, with extensive fibre-based sustainable packaging capabilities. Comparable as a broad incumbent competing for FMCG sustainable packaging spend across multiple product categories.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Pulpex social profiles
Digital presencePulpex compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
Pulpex financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Pulpex leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Pulpex funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors6 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Pulpex 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 Pulpex
What does Pulpex do?
Pulpex develops and licenses a patented fibre-based bottle technology made from over 90% sustainably sourced wood pulp. The company partners with manufacturers under license to produce PET-free, recyclable single-piece fibre containers at industrial scale, and supplies custom and stock bottle designs to global consumer goods brands including Diageo, Unilever, PepsiCo, Haleon, Castrol, Estée Lauder, and Kraft Heinz.
Is Pulpex a public or private company?
Pulpex is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Pulpex founded?
Pulpex was founded in 2020. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Pulpex based?
Pulpex is headquartered in Cambridge, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Pulpex make money?
One revenue line is on record: technology Licensing.
Who are Pulpex's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are CMPC, Stora Enso, Paboco (Paper Bottle Company), Huhtamaki and Billerud. Emerging players are Notpla and Origin Materials. Broad incumbents are Mondi, Tetra Pak and Smurfit Westrock.
Does Pulpex have an API?
No public API is recorded for Pulpex.
What industry is Pulpex in?
Pulpex's product category is Sustainable Packaging. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMALAMAA, Fiber-Based Sustainable Packaging (Recycled Paper, Molded Fiber, Bagasse), with a secondary code of IMAMAKAJ, Molded Fiber & Pulp Packaging (Trays, Clamshells, Cups). Its NAICS code is 322211 and its SIC code is 2621.