Terram Lab

What Terram Lab does

Terram Lab (operating under the DBA TerramTech) is a Scottsdale-based materials science company founded in 2022 that develops 100% bio-based, PFAS-free barrier coatings for flexible packaging applications. Its core technology platform uses cellulosic coatings and high-barrier coated papers designed to deliver plastic-equivalent performance on heat, oil, grease resistance, and shelf life while remaining compostable and free of harmful chemical coatings. The underlying chemistry traces to predecessor firm StenCo, where current Chief Science Officer Dr. Heather Watson served as CTO.

The company sells materials directly to enterprise packaging buyers across four primary verticals: Quick Service Restaurants, Consumer Packaged Goods, Retail, and packaging Converters. Its value proposition emphasizes drop-in integration with existing converter production lines and supply chains, positioning its coated papers as a substitute that matches incumbent plastic on performance, cost, and scale while meeting tightening global regulations on single-use plastics and chemical coatings.

Terram operates a B2B enterprise sales motion led by a dedicated CRO, with quote-based engagement rather than public pricing. Revenue is generated through material and product sales contracts with enterprise customers, supported by content-driven demand generation, industry conference participation (e.g., GreenBiz, Sustainability in Packaging), and direct website engagement. The company closed a $43.5 million funding round in January 2025 and has expanded its leadership team with senior commercial, engineering, and scientific executives drawn from Footprint, Intel, StenCo, and industrial manufacturing backgrounds.

Name

Terram Lab

Website

https://terramlab.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Terram Lab is a materials science company developing 100% bio-based, PFAS-free cellulosic barrier coatings for flexible packaging, serving enterprise customers across QSR, CPG, Retail, and packaging converter verticals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Phoenix

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Material/Product Sales: B2B sale of plastic-free barrier coating materials and high-barrier coated papers to brands, converters, and packaging manufacturers. Revenue derived from product volume and material supply contracts with enterprise customers.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Terram Lab develops and manufactures 100% bio-based, PFAS-free cellulosic barrier coatings and high-barrier coated papers that replace conventional petrochemical plastic in flexible packaging applications. The materials are engineered to deliver plastic-comparable heat, oil, and grease resistance plus extended shelf life while integrating into existing converter production lines. The company's products serve QSR chains, CPG brands, retailers, and packaging converters seeking drop-in, plastic-free packaging solutions.

Product overview

Terram offers a unified product line of 100% bio-based, plastic-free barrier materials and high-barrier coated papers engineered to replace conventional plastic packaging. The company's core offering consists of cellulosic coatings and advanced bio-based barrier materials designed for high performance in food packaging applications. These materials integrate seamlessly into existing converter machinery and supply chains, serving industries including Quick Service Restaurants (QSR), Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG), Retail, and packaging converters. The product portfolio is characterized by PFAS-free formulations, compostability, and compliance with evolving global regulatory standards.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• High-Barrier Coated Papers Plastic-free packaging materials made from 100% bio-based inputs that deliver high-barrier performance matching plastic, engineered for seamless integration into existing converter production lines. Designed for QSR chains, CPG brands, retailers, and packaging converters requiring PFAS-free, compostable, and circular packaging solutions with heat, oil, and grease resistance plus extended shelf life.
• Cellulosic Barrier Coatings Next-generation cellulosic coatings that deliver high-performance, plastic-free barrier materials designed to replace petrochemical-based plastics in flexible packaging applications. Formulated without PFAS or hidden plastics and built from fully renewable bio-based fibers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Materials match plastic on performance, cost, and scale
• +1 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Sealed Air: Global packaging company producing protective and food packaging including Cryovac vacuum bags and barrier films. Comparable to Terram for food packaging barrier technology and QSR/CPG customer base, with active sustainability programs targeting plastic reduction.
• Stora Enso: Renewable materials company producing packaging boards, biomaterials, and bio-based barrier coatings for food packaging. Comparable to Terram because it directly develops bio-based barrier solutions integrated into paperboard substrates for CPG customers.
• Amcor: Global packaging giant producing flexible packaging, rigid containers, and specialty cartons across CPG, food, and healthcare. Comparable to Terram as a major incumbent in flexible packaging with an active sustainable packaging portfolio and existing converter-grade customer relationships.
• Mondi: European paper and packaging group with deep corrugated and kraft paper operations plus sustainable packaging product lines. Comparable to Terram for paper-based barrier development targeting CPG and foodservice customers.

Emerging players

• Cruz Foam: Developer of bio-based foam packaging materials (protective packaging) made from chitosan. Comparable to Terram as a sustainable materials science startup replacing petroleum-based packaging with bio-based inputs, though focused on protective foam rather than barrier coatings.
• Loliware: Developer of seaweed-based single-use packaging including straws and cups. Comparable as a bio-based packaging disruptor targeting foodservice and consumer brands with compostable alternatives, though narrower in product range than Terram's coated paper platform.

Regional players

• BioPak: Asia-Pacific focused supplier of compostable foodservice packaging including paper cups, bowls, and bags. Comparable to Terram as a sustainability-focused foodservice and QSR packaging supplier with bio-based material positioning.

Direct peers

• Footprint: Plant-based fiber packaging company serving QSR, CPG, and retail with molded fiber and bio-based alternatives to plastic. Directly comparable to Terram because both target the same end markets with bio-based packaging replacements, and Footprint is the prior venture of Terram's co-founders.
• Notpla: UK-based company developing seaweed-based coatings and packaging materials as plastic-free alternatives for foodservice and consumer brands. Directly comparable to Terram in offering bio-based, compostable packaging solutions targeting similar sustainability-driven customers.
• Tipa: Israel-based developer of fully compostable flexible packaging films for food and beverage brands. Directly comparable to Terram because both produce plastic-free flexible packaging alternatives with comparable barrier performance claims targeting CPG and foodservice customers.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/terram-lab

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors1 record

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 Terram Lab