SMUSH MATERIALS S.R.L.

What SMUSH MATERIALS S.R.L. does

Smush Materials S.r.l. is an Italian biotechnology company that designs and produces 100% compostable secondary packaging for industrial applications. The company was founded in 2020 (per the company history block) and is headquartered in Milan, with an operational and production facility in Giussago. Its core technology exploits mycelium — the root apparatus of fungi — combined with agricultural by-products to manufacture a bio-based material positioned as a direct substitute for expanded polystyrene (EPS). The material is claimed to be self-extinguishing, waterproof, and mechanically superior to EPS, while being 100% compostable at end-of-life, with the company citing up to 90% CO2 emissions reduction and 80% disposal cost savings versus conventional EPS production.

The product portfolio comprises four standard SKUs — corner protectors and dividers (Angolari e Divisori), blocks and sheets (Blocchi e Lastre), filling chips (Chips Riempitive), and bottle/jar holders (Bottiglie e Vasetti) — supplemented by a Custom Design service for bespoke customer-specific packaging. The commercial model is B2B direct sales to industrial manufacturers, with customers reaching out through a website contact form for both standard catalog products and custom design engagements. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed; revenue model mixes one-time product purchases with professional services revenue from custom design work. The company has assembled a 9-person team covering executive leadership, R&D science, process engineering, industrial design, and growth, and operates within an Italian ecosystem of institutional investors (CDP Venture Capital, Terra Next), academic research (Politecnico di Milano), and innovation hubs (Cariplo Factory, Poli Hub, Tech 4 Planet, Simbiosi). No revenue, funding amounts, customer logos, patents, or certifications are publicly disclosed.

Name

SMUSH MATERIALS S.R.L.

Legal name

Smush Materials S.r.l.

Website

https://smushmaterials.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Smush Materials S.r.l. is an Italian biotechnology company that designs and manufactures 100% compostable, mycelium-based secondary packaging for industrial manufacturers, offering standard protective products and custom design services as a sustainable alternative to expanded polystyrene.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sustainable Packaging Materials

NAICS

Plastics Packaging Film and Sheet (including Laminated) Manufacturing (326112)

SIC

Plastics Products, Nec (3089)

akta.pro primary industry

Sustainable Protective & Cushioning Materials (Paper Cushions, Bio-Foams, Mycelium) (IMALAMAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Compostable & Bio-Based Packaging (PLA/PHA, Starch Blends, Cellulose Films) (IMALAMAB), Bio-based Packaging Materials (molded fiber, bio-barrier coatings, compostables) (IMAMALAI)

Keywords

• Mycelium packaging materials
• Compostable industrial packaging
• Sustainable protective packaging
• Secondary packaging solutions
• Fungal-based packaging

Headquarters

HQ city

Milan

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

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. Standard Packaging Products: Sale of standard mycelium-based packaging solutions including corner protectors and dividers, blocks and sheets, fillable chips, and bottles and jars holders. One-time product purchase model for industrial customers.
2. Custom Design Services: Bespoke packaging design service for customers with unique requirements. Collaborative design process combining performance, aesthetics, and environmental impact reduction.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

SMUSH Materials S.R.L. designs and produces 100% compostable, high-performance secondary packaging for industrial applications using mycelium (fungal root system) combined with agricultural by-products. The product portfolio includes standard packaging solutions (corner protectors and dividers, blocks and sheets, filling chips, and bottle/jar holders) plus a custom design service for bespoke packaging solutions.

Product overview

SMUSH Materials S.R.L. is a biotechnology packaging company that produces and designs 100% compostable, high-performance secondary packaging for industry. Their core technology harnesses mycelium (fungal root system) to transform agricultural by-products into packaging materials. The product portfolio consists of standard solutions including Angolari e Divisori (corners and dividers), Blocchi e Lastre (blocks and sheets), Chips Riempitive (filling chips), and Bottiglie e Vasetti (bottles and jars shapes). These standard products are designed to be stacked and adapted to manage one or more articles strategically within boxes. The company also offers a Custom Design service for bespoke packaging solutions tailored to specific client needs, combining innovation, performance, aesthetics, and environmental responsibility.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Smushroom: News and insights section dedicated to technology, team updates, and company news

Products and services

• Angolari e Divisori (Corner Protectors and Dividers) Standard mycelium-based packaging protection products designed to protect edges and separate products within packaging. Designed to be stacked and adapted to manage one or more articles strategically within boxes for industrial customers.
• Blocchi e Lastre (Blocks and Sheets) Standard mycelium-based packaging products recommended for heavier objects, providing stable support and effectively filling empty spaces. Available in different thicknesses for industrial applications.
• Chips Riempitive (Filling Chips) Simple and versatile mycelium-based filling chips that adapt to different packaging needs for industrial customers.
• Bottiglie e Vasetti (Bottles and Jars Shapes) Mycelium-based packaging shapes dedicated to glass bottles and small circular containers for secure packaging during shipping and handling.
• Custom Design Service Bespoke packaging design service where forms are created specifically for well-designed packaging that optimizes logistics, enhances the product, and strengthens brand identity. Collaborative design process combining performance, aesthetics, and environmental impact reduction for industrial customers with unique requirements.

Quantifiable outcome

• CO2 emissions reduction up to 90% compared to conventional EPS production
• +1 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Tech 4 PlanetminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnology platform/initiative supporting sustainable technology development.
• SimbiosiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSustainability-focused organization supporting circular economy and innovative material development.
• Politecnico di MilanocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrestigious Italian technical university providing research collaboration, academic partnerships, and technical expertise for material science and engineering development.
• Cariplo FactoryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovation hub and accelerator supporting startup development and corporate innovation initiatives.
• Poli HubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovation center associated with Politecnico di Milano supporting startup ecosystem and technology transfer.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Grown.bio: Dutch mycelium packaging startup producing custom-molded mycelium packaging from agricultural waste. Direct competitor in the European mycelium-based protective packaging space with similar product positioning and customer use cases.
• Magical Mushroom Company: UK-based mycelium packaging manufacturer producing compostable protective packaging as a replacement for EPS. Closest direct European competitor to Smush, serving similar industrial and e-commerce customers with molded mycelium packaging.
• Ecovative Design: US-based pioneer and global leader in mycelium-based packaging (Mushroom Packaging) and mycelium materials. Directly competes with Smush in the same product category using the same biological platform, but at significantly larger scale and with established North American customers.
• Mogu: Italian mycelium-based materials company producing bio-based interior products and acoustic panels from mycelium and agricultural residues. Directly comparable in geography, technology platform, and feedstock approach, although focused more on interior design than protective packaging.

Broad incumbents

• Sonoco: Global diversified packaging manufacturer with a growing portfolio of sustainable/compostable protective packaging products. Comparable as a broad incumbent addressing the same industrial end markets Smush targets, but with far greater scale.
• Mondi: Major European paper-based and sustainable packaging incumbent. Comparable as an industrial protective-packaging supplier actively transitioning toward sustainable/compostable materials, serving similar industrial customers.
• Sealed Air: Global incumbent in protective packaging (including the well-known Bubble Wrap and EPS-compatible solutions). Represents the established industry player that Smush is attempting to displace, with broad product portfolio and global industrial customer base.

Emerging players

• GreenWrap: European emerging producer of compostable protective packaging alternatives such as paper-based cushioning. Competitor in the broader industrial sustainable protective packaging market, targeting the same EPS-replacement use cases.
• MycoTechnology: US-based fermentation/mycelium technology company primarily focused on food ingredients; represents an adjacent emerging player using mycelium platforms with potential overlap in industrial bio-based materials.
• BioNovatic: European emerging player in bio-based and compostable packaging materials, including molded fiber alternatives. Comparable as a sustainable substitute to conventional plastic packaging serving industrial customers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/smush-materials

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

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 SMUSH MATERIALS S.R.L.