Encapsulae

What Encapsulae does

Encapsulae S.L. is a Spanish biotechnology company founded in 2018 as a spin-off of CSIC (Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas), headquartered in Castellón de la Plana, Spain. The company develops and commercializes functional additives for active and intelligent food packaging, built on proprietary encapsulation technology licensed from CSIC that uses supports including zeolites, sepiolite, bentonite, polysaccharides, silica, microcapsules, and organoclays to deliver active principles into polymer matrices. Its commercial portfolio is anchored by two core products: AS030C, a patented biodegradation accelerator additive (Spanish patent P201990046) that achieves 95% plastic waste reduction in 90 days under OK COMPOST conditions, and AS020P, an antimicrobial food-contact additive active against Campylobacter jejuni, Listeria monocytogenes, E. coli, and Staphylococcus aureus. The portfolio also includes ethylene absorbers (EF 222-OC), antifungal and antimicrobial additives, strawberry-specific preservation additives (Agrofresa), insect repellents, and bio-based coatings (EF 116N series), with an emerging SmartLabel biosensor line developed through the IntelActivAI consortium.

The company operates a B2B sales-led model targeting food packaging manufacturers, polymer converters, and adjacent industrial buyers (meat processors, paint producers, PPE manufacturers), with no publicly disclosed pricing and engagement driven by website contact forms and project-based collaborations. Revenue is generated through one-time additive sales, technology licensing, and — materially — through public R&D grants from European (H2020), national (CDTI), and regional Valencian (AVI, Generalitat Valenciana) programs, with roughly €857,000 in disclosed grant awards across four named projects between 2022 and 2024, plus H2020 consortium participation. Operating geographies are Spain and the broader European Union; no commercial activity outside Europe is disclosed.

Name

Encapsulae

Legal name

Encapsulae S.L.

Website

https://encapsulae.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Encapsulae S.L. is a Spanish CSIC spin-off (founded 2018) that develops and commercializes proprietary encapsulation-based functional additives for active and intelligent food packaging, serving polymer converters, food packaging manufacturers, and adjacent industrial buyers across Europe.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Active Packaging Additives

NAICS

Paint, Coating, and Adhesive Manufacturing (3255)

SIC

Chemicals & Allied Products (2800)

akta.pro primary industry

Active & Intelligent Food Packaging (Oxygen Scavengers, Indicators) (IMALAHAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Biodegradable Additives & Masterbatches (pro-oxidant-free, bio-based modifiers) (IMAEAOAD), Compostable & Bio-Based Packaging (PLA/PHA, Starch Blends, Cellulose Films) (IMALAMAB), Encapsulation & Emulsified Delivery Systems (Spray-dried emulsions, Lipid microencapsulation) (AFAJACAL)

Keywords

• Active packaging additives
• Biodegradation accelerators
• Food safety additives
• Encapsulation technology
• Antimicrobial packaging

Headquarters

HQ city

Castellón De La Plana

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Active Additive Sales: Development and commercialization of functional additives for active and intelligent packaging. Products include AS030C (biodegradation accelerator), AS020P (food safety additive), and other specialized additives for food packaging applications.
2. Technology Licensing: Licensing of proprietary and CSIC-licensed encapsulation technology to third parties for development of active packaging solutions.
3. EU Research Project Funding: Participation in publicly funded research projects at European, national, and regional levels including H2020, CDTI, AVI programs. Funding received for specific R&D initiatives.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Encapsulae develops and commercializes functional additives for active and intelligent food packaging using proprietary encapsulation technology. Its portfolio includes the AS030C biodegradation accelerator (95% plastic waste reduction in 90 days under OK COMPOST conditions) and the AS020P food safety additive (antimicrobial activity against Campylobacter jejuni, Listeria monocytogenes, E. coli, and Staphylococcus aureus), alongside a broader line of ethylene absorbers, antifungal, antimicrobial, and repellent additives sold to B2B packaging manufacturers.

Product overview

Encapsulae is a biotechnology company — founded in 2018 as a CSIC spin-off — focused on the research, development, and commercialization of functional additives for active and intelligent food packaging. The product portfolio centers on two core additive families: (1) the AS030C biodegradation accelerator additive for OK COMPOST polymer degradation (95% reduction in 90 days), backed by a Spain-registered patent (P201990046), and (2) the AS020P food safety additive with demonstrated antimicrobial activity against food-borne pathogens. These are complemented by a broader line of specialized additives including the EF 222-OC ethylene absorber, Antihongos (antifungal), Agrofresa (strawberry packaging), Antimicrobiano, EF 116N-COAT and EF 116N-BIO coating additives, Repelentes (repellents), and GB 235 ORE. The company leverages proprietary encapsulation technology (using supports such as zeolites, sepiolite, bentonite, polysaccharides, silica, microcapsules, and organoclays) to deliver oxygen absorption, antimicrobial action, solar filtering, antioxidant release, and ethylene sequestration into food packaging polymers. The IntelActivAI project has further advanced the portfolio into smart packaging with color-changing biosensor labels that visually indicate food freshness.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• AS030C: Biodegradation accelerator additive for polymers, achieving 95% plastic waste reduction in 90 days under OK COMPOST conditions.
• AS020P
• EF 222-OC
• EF 116N-COAT
• EF 116N-BIO
• AS410-C
• AS422
• AS031P
• GB 235 ORE
• Antihongos
• Agrofresa
• Antimicrobiano
• Repelentes

Products and services

• AS030C Biodegradation Accelerator Biodegradation accelerator additive for polymers sold to food packaging manufacturers. Based on encapsulation of inorganic active principles that activate under OK COMPOST conditions, generating a deficit of negative charges that recombine polymer chains via hydrolysis, decomposing the polymer into shorter chains that compost bacteria transform into CO2. Achieves 95% plastic waste reduction in 90 days.
• AS020P Food Safety Additive Antimicrobial additive for polymers in contact with food, sold to packaging manufacturers. Demonstrated activity against Campylobacter jejuni, Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus. Forms part of active food safety packaging that controls bacterial growth and extends food shelf life.
• EF 222-OC Ethylene Absorber Ethylene absorber additive for packaging that prevents premature ripening of fresh produce by absorbing ethylene gas, thereby extending shelf life of fruits and vegetables.
• Antihongos Antifungal Additive Antifungal additive for packaging applications that prevents fungal growth on food products, contributing to extended shelf life and reduced food spoilage.
• Agrofresa Strawberry Packaging Additive Specialized additive solution for strawberry packaging applications, designed to preserve freshness and extend shelf life of strawberries through active packaging technology.
• Antimicrobiano Antimicrobial Additive Antimicrobial additive for packaging that inhibits microbial growth on food surfaces, improving food safety and extending product shelf life.
• EF 116N-COAT Coating Additive Coating additive product for active packaging applications, part of the EF 116N product line developed for food contact and preservation applications.
• EF 116N-BIO Bio-Based Additive Bio-based additive product in the EF 116N line, designed for active packaging with biological/preservative properties for food contact applications.
• Repelentes Repellent Additives Repellent additives for packaging applications designed to repel insects or other pests from packaged food products.
• GB 235 ORE Additive Additive product in the GB 235 series for packaging applications, with oxygen-related or antioxidant properties as indicated by the ORE designation.

Quantifiable outcome

• 95% plastic waste reduction in 90 days under OK COMPOST conditions
• +4 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

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Luce Innovative Technologies SLUcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2024Consortium partner in S24_Misiones (IntelActivAI) project for intelligent food packaging. Collaboration on biosensor SmartLabel development and active materials integration. Total project budget: 1,501,299.00 euros.
• Darwin BioProspecting Excellence SAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2024Consortium partner in IntelActivAI project focused on industrial development of new generation active and intelligent food packaging. Collaboration on Big Data and AI solutions for food safety.
• Oscillum Biotechnology SLcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 February 2024Consortium partner in S24_PidCop project for development of active and intelligent coatings for meat products. Joint development of oxygen scavenging and antimicrobial packaging solutions for meat products with real-time freshness monitoring. Funding received: 82,479.29 euros for Encapsulae.
• Zumos Valencianos del Mediterráneo SAminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 April 2023Consortium partner in S23_CitraPaint project for bio-based paints from citrus waste. Encapsulae provides additive technology for improved thermal and electrical properties.
• Pinturas Blatem SLminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 April 2023Consortium partner in CitraPaint project developing bio-based paints with improved properties using Encapsulae additives.
• Airnatech Antiviral, SLminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2022Consortium partner in S22_BIOEPI project for biodegradable filter fabrics for high-efficiency reusable masks (EPIs). Collaboration on electrostatic filtration enhancement and antimicrobial properties.
• H2020 Charisma ConsortiumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean Horizon 2020 project for Raman instrument calibration protocols and Raman data harmonization.
• H2020 Sunshine ConsortiumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean Horizon 2020 project for development and implementation of simple, robust, cost-effective, safe and sustainable-by-design systems.
• CSIC (Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas)coreTechnology or IntegrationParent research institution. Encapsulae was founded as spin-off in 2018 and licenses encapsulation technology from CSIC for active additive delivery in food packaging applications.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Novamont: Italian producer of Mater-Bi bioplastics and related biodegradable additives for packaging and compostable films. Directly comparable on the biodegradation/compostability side of Encapsulae's offering and likely competes for the same EU converters targeting EN 13432 compliance.
• Topchim: Belgium-based specialty chemical company producing biodegradable additives and coatings (TopScreen, water-repellent barriers) for paper and packaging converters. Closely comparable to Encapsulae's additive-for-packaging model, particularly for compostable and barrier-coating applications.
• Aptar CSP Technologies: Aptar's CSP Technologies division is a direct competitor in active packaging — producing oxygen scavengers, desiccants, and antimicrobial scavengers used by food and pharma converters. Comparable because both sell active-functional additives rather than packaging substrates, and target the same polymer converter customers in food packaging.

Broad incumbents

• Sealed Air: Global food packaging incumbent with active/intelligent packaging offerings (e.g. Cryovac oxygen-scavenging and time-temperature indicator technologies). Overlaps with Encapsulae's active-packaging scope but operates at vastly greater scale across films, trays, and integrated systems rather than standalone additives.
• AptarGroup: Global dispensing and active packaging solutions provider including closures with integrated active materials, oxygen scavengers, and freshness indicators. Overlaps with Encapsulae's intelligent packaging ambitions (e.g. SmartLabel biosensor) though Aptar is far broader across consumer goods dispensing.
• Clariant: Specialty chemicals company producing additives for plastics packaging, including antimicrobial and oxygen-scavenging masterbatches for food-contact polymers. Mirrors Encapsulae's chemical-additive business model in the food packaging application space, but at global scale with broader portfolio.
• BASF: Major specialty chemicals producer with packaging additive portfolios including oxygen scavengers, antimicrobial masterbatches, and biodegradable polymer modifiers. Comparable as a chemicals input supplier for the packaging value chain, though much broader in product scope.

Emerging players

• Lactips: French startup developing water-soluble, biodegradable thermoplastic materials from milk proteins for food and cosmetic packaging. Comparable as an emerging European player building novel biodegradable polymer solutions for converters and brand owners facing EU plastic regulation.
• ScentSational Technologies: US-based developer of active and intelligent packaging including encapsulated flavor, aroma, and antimicrobial release systems for food packaging. Comparable niche overlap with Encapsulae's encapsulated active-principle technology for food-contact polymer additives.

Regional players

• BioBag International: Norway-based manufacturer of compostable bags and films using renewable and biodegradable resins, primarily serving European markets. Comparable on the compostable/sustainable packaging side of Encapsulae's portfolio, particularly relevant as the customer base for biodegradation additives like AS030C.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Encapsulae