What Krill Design does

Krill Design is an Italian materials innovator that develops and produces REKRILL®, a family of 100% bio-based biopolymers derived from agro-industrial by-products including hazelnut shells, coffee grounds, bran, grape marc, and orange peels. Operating through its manufacturing entity KRILLMAT S.r.l., the company runs a facility in Paderno Dugnano (Milan) with a stated annual production capacity of 4,000 tonnes and is led by co-founders Ivan Calimani (CEO), Yack Humberto Di Maio (R&D Director), and Martina Lamperti (Project Manager). The company was founded in 2018, employs 1–10 people, and in June 2026 converted KRILLMAT into a Società Benefit, formalizing its circular-economy mission.

The core technology is a three-phase patented production process — micronization, drying, and compounding — that converts organic residues into bio-based polymer matrices certified OK Biobased by TÜV Austria and produced under ISO 14001:2015 environmental management standards. Five product variants (Nut, Coffee, Bran, Wine, Orange) are differentiated by feedstock and are compatible with existing industrial molding platforms including injection molding, extrusion, 3D printing, and rotational molding. In-house R&D is conducted at Krill Lab. REKRILL® formulations are biodegradable, compostable, and free of microplastics.

The business model is B2B sale of industrial polymer materials. The primary commercial segment is luxury and premium packaging for cosmetics, personal care, fragrance, and makeup, with additional use cases targeted in fashion, food & beverage, consumer electronics, and design. Pricing is not publicly disclosed. The most prominent documented commercial relationship is a February 2026 co-development with Berlin Packaging Beauty producing the XOCO upcycled hazelnut shell-based material for premium packaging. The company raised approximately $6.2 million in February 2025 from Algebris Investments (lead), Primo Capital, and Crédit Agricole Italia, and markets primarily through its corporate website and industry events such as Paris Packaging Week, Milano Packaging Première, and SaloneSatellite at Milan Design Week.

Name

Krill Design

Legal name

Krill Design srl

Website

https://krilldesign.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Krill Design is an Italian materials innovator producing REKRILL®, a 100% bio-based biopolymer line derived from agro-industrial waste (hazelnut shells, coffee grounds, bran, grape marc, orange peels) for industrial customers in luxury packaging, fashion, food & beverage, consumer electronics, and design.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Bio-based polymer materials manufacturing

NAICS

Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing (326)

SIC

Papers & Allied Products (2600)

akta.pro primary industry

Compostable & Bio-Based Packaging (PLA/PHA, Starch Blends, Cellulose Films) (IMALAMAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sustainable Protective & Cushioning Materials (Paper Cushions, Bio-Foams, Mycelium) (IMALAMAH), Sustainable Rubber & Bio-elastomers (bio-based TPEs, natural rubber innovations) (IMANANAG), Compostable & Bio-based Rigid Packaging (injection/blow/thermoform) (IMANANAD), Compostable & Bio-Based Flexible Packaging (PLA, PHA, Cellulose Films) (IMALABAO), Compostable & Bio-based Flexible Films and Sheet (extrusion/cast/blown) (IMANANAC)

Keywords

• Bio-based polymers
• Sustainable materials manufacturing
• Bioplastics production
• Circular economy materials
• Industrial biopolymers

Headquarters

HQ city

Milano

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

Krill Design develops and manufactures REKRILL®, a line of 100% bio-based, biodegradable, and compostable biopolymers made from agro-industrial waste (hazelnut shells, coffee grounds, bran, grape marc, orange peels). Through its KRILLMAT manufacturing division, the company produces these materials at industrial scale (4,000 tonnes/year) for use in packaging, fashion, consumer electronics, food & beverage, and design applications.

Product overview

Krill Design, through its KRILLMAT division, offers the REKRILL® line of 100% bio-based biopolymers derived from agricultural and food industry waste materials. The portfolio consists of five product variants named by their source material: REKRILL® Nut (hazelnut shells), REKRILL® Coffee (coffee grounds), REKRILL® Bran (wheat bran), REKRILL® Wine (grape marc), and REKRILL® Orange (orange peels). These materials are designed for industrial manufacturing applications including packaging, fashion, consumer electronics, food & beverage, and design. Production is supported by in-house R&D (Krill Lab) and manufacturing capabilities with a capacity of 4,000 tonnes per year. Compatible with injection molding, extrusion, 3D printing, and rotational molding technologies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• REKRILL®: 100% bio-based biopolymers derived from food waste byproducts (hazelnut shells, coffee grounds, bran, grape marc, orange peels), certified OK biobased by TÜV Austria and produced according to ISO 14001:2015 standard. Designed for industrial manufacturing applications including injection molding, extrusion, 3D printing, and rotational molding.

Products and services

• REKRILL® Nut 100% bio-based biopolymer made from hazelnut shells sourced as industrial food processing residues from the confectionery industry. Certified OK biobased by TÜV Austria, biodegradable, compostable, and free of microplastics. Designed for industrial manufacturing applications.
• REKRILL® Coffee 100% bio-based biopolymer made from coffee grounds derived from coffee roasting residues. Certified OK biobased by TÜV Austria, biodegradable, compostable, and free of microplastics. Designed for industrial manufacturing applications.
• REKRILL® Bran 100% bio-based biopolymer made from bran, a residual by-product from milling. Certified OK biobased by TÜV Austria, biodegradable, compostable, and free of microplastics. Designed for industrial manufacturing applications.
• REKRILL® Wine 100% bio-based biopolymer made from grape marc (vinacce). Certified OK biobased by TÜV Austria, biodegradable, compostable, and free of microplastics. Designed for industrial manufacturing applications.
• REKRILL® Orange 100% bio-based biopolymer made from orange peels derived from orange juice pressing residues. Certified OK biobased by TÜV Austria, biodegradable, compostable, and free of microplastics. Designed for industrial manufacturing applications.
• Krill Lab (R&D Services) In-house research, development, and materials engineering laboratory where REKRILL® biopolymers are formulated and tested. Conducts chemical, mechanical, and resistance testing to engineer formulations customized for specific industrial applications.
• REKRILL® Production Services Industrial-scale contract manufacturing of REKRILL® biopolymers using a patented three-phase process (micronization, drying, compounding), with annual capacity of 4,000 tonnes. Compatible with injection molding, extrusion, 3D printing, and rotational molding.
• XOCO Upcycled Hazelnut Shell-Based Material Upcycled bio-based material derived from hazelnut shells, co-developed by Krill Design with Berlin Packaging Beauty for premium cosmetic, skin care, personal care, hair care, fragrance, and makeup packaging applications.

Quantifiable outcome

• Production capacity of 4,000 tonnes per year

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Berlin Packaging BeautycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 February 2026Berlin Packaging Beauty showcased an expanded portfolio of packaging innovations at Paris Packaging Week, including metal-free and POM-free dispensing engines for skin care and personal care, and the upcycled hazelnut shell-based material XOCO developed with Italian materials innovator Krill Design. This represents a co-development partnership where Krill Design provides sustainable bio-based materials for Berlin Packaging Beauty's premium packaging solutions targeting cosmetics, personal care, and beauty applications.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Novamont: Italian pioneer in bio-based and compostable bioplastics (Mater-Bi) made from renewable feedstocks. Closest geographic and product analogue to Krill Design's REKRILL® bio-based polymers from agro-industrial residues.
• Sulapac: Finnish supplier of bio-based, microplastic-free materials for cosmetics and luxury packaging. Direct competitor in the premium beauty packaging materials niche that Krill Design targets via Berlin Packaging Beauty.
• Avantium: Dutch renewable chemistry company developing PEF (plant-based polyester) and other bio-based materials for packaging and consumer applications. Comparable as a European specialty biopolymer innovator competing for sustainability-mandated brand owners.
• Danimer Scientific: US-based producer of PHA-based biopolymers (Nodax®) for packaging, foodservice, and consumer goods. Direct peer in compostable/bio-based polymer manufacturing with similar end-market focus.
• Biome Bioplastics: UK developer of bio-based and biodegradable plastics from plant-based feedstocks for packaging and consumer products. Comparable European specialty bioplastics innovator at similar scale.

Broad incumbents

• NatureWorks: World's largest PLA (Ingeo) producer with broad biopolymer grades serving packaging, consumer goods, and 3D printing. A large-scale incumbent in bio-based polymers that competes with REKRILL® for the same converter customers.
• TotalEnergies Corbion: Joint venture between TotalEnergies and Corbion producing Luminy® PLA bioplastics. Established large-scale PLA supplier with deep converter relationships competing with REKRILL® in packaging and durables.

Emerging players

• Flo: Italian startup producing biodegradable single-use products (cups, cutlery) from plant-based materials. Adjacent Italian bioplastics peer focused on foodservice packaging end-applications.
• Loliware: US startup producing seaweed-based, fully compostable materials for foodservice and consumer packaging. Emerging biopolymer peer with comparable sustainability positioning and brand-owner go-to-market.

Others

• Carbios: French biotech developing enzymatic recycling technologies for PET and PLA. Adjacent rather than directly competitive — provides enabling circular-economy technology for the same bio-based polymer ecosystem Krill Design serves.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/designkrill

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors3 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Krill Design