Cirkla
Cirkla manufactures high-barrier molded fiber packaging trays as drop-in replacements for plastic trays in fresh protein, ready meal, produce, and custom food packaging applications, selling directly to US protein producers and grocery retailers under multi-year supply agreements.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2023
- HeadquartersLewes, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Cirkla does
Cirkla develops and manufactures high-barrier molded fiber packaging trays positioned as drop-in replacements for plastic trays in food packaging applications. The company's core technology is a patented multi-layer barrier lamination system that bonds barrier layers (water, oil/grease, water vapor, oxygen, structural, and heat-seal) directly to a fiber substrate made from sugarcane bagasse, bamboo, and wood pulp during manufacturing. This architecture delivers oxygen and moisture barrier performance (OTR < 0.5 cc/m²/day, WVTR < 0.5 g/m²/day) and burst strength above 18 in Hg, enabling MAP-grade shelf life of 21 days across beef, pork, poultry, and seafood, and reducing plastic content by up to 85% by weight. A second patent covers an easy-peel liner disposal system that enables clean separation of liner from fiber tray at point of disposal.
The company sells four product lines—MAP & VSP trays, Overwrap trays, Ready Meals trays, and Produce trays—plus custom molded fiber solutions for dairy tubs, coffee capsules, and condiment pots. Revenue is generated via unit-based pricing ($7.89 per 1,000 trays) under multi-year supply agreements with US protein producers and grocery retailers including Trader Joe's, Albertsons, Safeway, Save Mart, Smart & Final, and Market Basket. Distribution is direct enterprise field sales with sample-based trial conversion supported by QA and shelf-life testing, and the company operates from a US headquarters in Gainesville, Georgia and an Indian subsidiary in Mumbai. An EPR Savings Calculator on the website quantifies the regulatory cost arbitrage, as plastic trays carry roughly 3x higher Extended Producer Responsibility fees than Cirkla fiber in Oregon and Colorado.
Cirkla firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Cirkla
- Legal name
- Cirkla Inc.
- Website
- https://gocirkla.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2023
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Cirkla manufactures high-barrier molded fiber packaging trays as drop-in replacements for plastic trays in fresh protein, ready meal, produce, and custom food packaging applications, selling directly to US protein producers and grocery retailers under multi-year supply agreements.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Cirkla industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Sustainable Food Packaging
- akta.pro primary industry
- Refrigerated Meat & Seafood (Processed/Packaged) (CRADACAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Rigid Food Containers (Cups, Trays, Clamshells) (IMALAAAD), Ready Meals & Prepared Foods Packaging (IMALAHAL), Compostable & Bio-Based Packaging (PLA/PHA, Starch Blends, Cellulose Films) (IMALAMAB), Dairy & Refrigerated Foods Packaging (IMALAHAG)
Keywords
Where Cirkla is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lewes
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Cirkla business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Fiber Packaging Products: Revenue generated from selling molded fiber packaging trays across four product categories: Meat & Protein, Ready Meals, Produce, and Custom solutions. Products are sold under multi-year supply agreements with major US protein producers and grocery retailers. Unit-based pricing per 1,000 trays.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Cirkla Molded Fiber Trays - $7.89 per 1,000 trays |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels3 records
Cirkla product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Cirkla manufactures molded fiber packaging trays with patented multi-layer barrier liner technology as drop-in replacements for plastic trays in food packaging applications. The company produces four core product lines — Meat & Protein trays, Ready Meals trays, Produce trays, and Custom packaging solutions — selling directly to food processors and grocery retailers under multi-year supply agreements. All products use agricultural byproducts (sugarcane bagasse, bamboo, wood pulp) as substrate and deliver shelf life, barrier performance, and equipment compatibility equivalent to or better than plastic.
Product overview
Cirkla offers a portfolio of high-barrier molded fiber packaging trays that function as drop-in replacements for plastic trays in food packaging applications. The core product line includes MAP & VSP Trays (the world's first fiber trays validated for modified atmosphere packaging), Overwrap Trays (for standard retail overwrap applications), Ready Meals Trays (microwave/oven-safe fiber trays with customizable liner options), and Produce Trays (100% plastic-free trays for fresh produce). Custom Packaging solutions round out the portfolio, enabling engineering of fiber alternatives for non-standard formats like dairy tubs, coffee capsules, and condiment pots. All products share Cirkla's patented multi-layer barrier liner technology that delivers oxygen, moisture, and gas-flush performance equal to or better than plastic while being up to 85% less plastic by weight. The EPR Calculator tool supports customer cost analysis when evaluating the switch from plastic to fiber.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- MAP & VSP Trays High-barrier molded fiber trays validated for modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) and vacuum skin packaging (VSP) of fresh beef, pork, poultry, and seafood. Features patented multi-layer barrier liner delivering OTR < 0.5 cc/m²/day and WVTR < 0.5 g/m²/day with 21-day shelf life. Drop-in replacement for plastic MAP trays requiring no capital investment or line reconfiguration. Sold to food processors and grocery retailers.
- Overwrap Trays High-performance molded fiber trays designed as replacements for EPS and PET overwrap trays. Strong, rigid, freezer-safe, and curbside recyclable. Validated for use on Ross, MULTIVAC, OSSID, Harpak-ULMA, and Proseal tray sealing equipment. Designed for protein processors and grocery retailers.
- Ready Meals Trays Industry-first molded fiber trays for ready meals that are microwave and oven-safe, leak-proof, and feature patented easy-peel liner innovation. Offers customizable liner options (CPET, CPET+EVOH, VSP) and three peel strengths. Sold to ready meal manufacturers.
- Produce Trays 100% plastic-free produce trays made entirely from fiber and paper materials with no liner or plastic components. Certified for home and industrial composting, curbside recyclable, and moisture-resistant. Available in 20+ SKUs covering corn, zucchini, bell peppers, mushrooms, cucumbers, and tomatoes. Sold to produce packers.
- Custom Packaging Custom engineered molded fiber solutions for non-standard packaging formats including dairy tubs, biscuit inserts, scoops, refill packs, coffee capsules, and condiment pots. Supports complex designs with tight draft angles, undercuts, threads, and multi-part assemblies. Rapid prototyping (~100 samples in 2-3 weeks) and scalable commercial production from BRC and ISO-certified facilities. Sold to brands requiring custom fiber formats.
Quantifiable outcome
- Up to 85% less plastic by weight compared to conventional plastic trays
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Cirkla
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Cirkla technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration5 records
Feature3 records
Cirkla partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- RosscoreEquipment validation partner. Cirkla's MAP & VSP trays validated on Ross tray sealers covering the majority of the US protein processor installed base.
- MULTIVACcoreEquipment validation partner. Cirkla's MAP & VSP trays validated on MULTIVAC tray sealers covering the majority of the US protein processor installed base.
- OSSIDcoreEquipment validation partner. Cirkla's MAP & VSP trays validated on OSSID tray sealers covering the majority of the US protein processor installed base.
- Harpak-ULMAcoreEquipment validation partner. Cirkla's MAP & VSP trays validated on Harpak-ULMA tray sealers covering the majority of the US protein processor installed base.
- ProsealcoreEquipment validation partner. Cirkla's MAP & VSP trays validated on Proseal tray sealers covering the majority of the US protein processor installed base.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Cirkla competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Footprint: Footprint develops fiber-based and plant-based packaging alternatives to plastic for food service and grocery applications. Direct competitor in molded fiber and bio-based trays, with similar focus on replacing plastic in MAP, fresh produce, and ready meal categories.
- BioPak: BioPak produces compostable food packaging including fiber-based trays, cups, and containers for foodservice and retail. Comparable in sustainable molded fiber focus though primarily Australian/European in geographic emphasis.
- Eco-Products (Novolex): Eco-Products, a Novolex brand, specializes in compostable and fiber-based foodservice packaging including plates, bowls, and trays. Comparable in sustainable packaging focus with overlapping end markets in grocery and foodservice.
Direct peers
- LBP Inc. LBP manufactures single-use paperboard and fiber-based packaging including food containers, hot cups, and molded fiber products. Direct peer in fiber packaging manufacturing with comparable end markets in foodservice and grocery.
- CKF Inc. CKF Inc. manufactures molded pulp and fiber-based packaging including protein trays, egg cartons, and food-grade containers. Direct peer in molded fiber food packaging serving North American protein and grocery markets.
Broad incumbents
- Huhtamaki: Huhtamaki is a global food packaging manufacturer producing fiber-based, plastic, and molded pulp packaging for fresh foods, ready meals, and foodservice. Broad incumbent with comparable product categories but significantly larger scale and geographic footprint.
- Sealed Air: Sealed Air is a major packaging incumbent producing Cryovac vacuum and MAP films/trays for protein and food processors. Overlaps with Cirkla in MAP protein tray applications where Sealed Air is the dominant incumbent; increasingly pivoting toward sustainable alternatives.
- Pactiv Evergreen (Novolex): Pactiv Evergreen (recently acquired by Novolex) is one of the largest North American producers of food and beverage packaging including EPS, PET, and fiber-based trays. Direct overlap in protein and produce tray categories where Cirkla is positioning as a sustainable alternative.
- Sonoco Products: Sonoco produces paperboard, molded fiber, and rigid plastic packaging for fresh foods, protein, and consumer goods. Comparable in molded fiber capability with broader product portfolio across rigid paper containers and food cans.
- Genpak: Genpak manufactures rigid and foam food packaging including MAP trays, clamshells, and produce containers. Overlaps with Cirkla in protein and produce tray formats where Genpak is a long-standing incumbent; has begun introducing fiber alternatives.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Cirkla social profiles
Digital presenceCirkla compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance12 records
Cirkla financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Cirkla leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Cirkla subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Cirkla funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors3 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Cirkla 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 Cirkla
What does Cirkla do?
Cirkla manufactures molded fiber packaging trays with patented multi-layer barrier liner technology as drop-in replacements for plastic trays in food packaging applications. The company produces four core product lines — Meat & Protein trays, Ready Meals trays, Produce trays, and Custom packaging solutions — selling directly to food processors and grocery retailers under multi-year supply agreements. All products use agricultural byproducts (sugarcane bagasse, bamboo, wood pulp) as substrate and deliver shelf life, barrier performance, and equipment compatibility equivalent to or better than plastic.
Is Cirkla a public or private company?
Cirkla is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Cirkla founded?
Cirkla was founded in 2023. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Cirkla based?
Cirkla is headquartered in Lewes, United States, in the North America region.
How does Cirkla make money?
One revenue line is on record: fiber Packaging Products.
Who are Cirkla's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Footprint, BioPak and Eco-Products (Novolex). Direct peers are LBP Inc. and CKF Inc.. Broad incumbents are Huhtamaki, Sealed Air, Pactiv Evergreen (Novolex), Sonoco Products and Genpak.
Does Cirkla have an API?
No public API is recorded for Cirkla.
What industry is Cirkla in?
Cirkla's product category is Sustainable Food Packaging. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRADACAK, Refrigerated Meat & Seafood (Processed/Packaged), with a secondary code of IMALAAAD, Rigid Food Containers (Cups, Trays, Clamshells).