Cellexcel
Company overview
Cellexcel, a University of East Anglia spinout formed in 2021, is transforming the future of sustainable packaging and materials. Supported by Norwich Research Park’s dynamic ecosystem, Cellexcel bridges scientific discovery and commercial impact, pioneering patented biomaterial technologies that address urgent environmental challenges.
Cellexcel’s technology was developed by Prof Richard Stephenson, from the School of Chemistry at UEA, one of the Partner institutions at Norwich Research Park and one of the world’s most acclaimed centres for bio-based science research. This pioneering work was followed by Cellexcel’s own research and development, culminating in Cellexcellent™, a unique, patent pending technology poised to eliminate harmful chemicals in packaging, enabling a circular, low-carbon future across multiple industries.
The challenge
With a growing focus on sustainability across all industries, the ability to replace materials which generate CO2 emissions with biomaterials has become a matter of urgency across multiple industries, including the automotive and aerospace sectors.
Composites, as the name suggests, are materials that are made up of several different elements – a reinforcement material embedded in a resin. Some of the most common in use are fibre glass reinforced resins and carbon fibre reinforcing materials, used to make components such as panels for cars, aircraft and are a very popular material used in the manufacture of high-performance bicycles. Traditional composites like these consume a massive amount of energy in their manufacture and thus create high CO2 emissions.
A change to bio-based composites made from materials like flax or hemp would make a measurable difference. Not only do they not need as much energy in the manufacturing process, growing a field of hemp or flax in the first place will absorb a significant amount of CO2 out of the atmosphere.
The demand for bio-composites is being driven by industries seeking more sustainable solutions. The technology advances in this area are proving to be attractive to investors who view sustainability as a key shareholder goal. The desire to reduce emissions will lead to the ultimate success of bio-composites being adopted on a large scale.
Currently, bio-composites account for just 6% of the market. The big challenge is how to replace thermoplastics and fibreglass with bio-composites. If the market moves from a 6% to 12% bio-composite usage, that is a $10bn opportunity.
The proposition
Cellexcel’s licensable technology package offers manufacturers a superior alternative to AKD and PFAS materials and coatings in the paper and packaging industry. The value proposition includes:
- Elimination of AKD
- Elimination of PFAS “forever chemicals” and plastic coatings
- Significantly lower manufacturing carbon footprint, with potential reductions of 60-80% in CO2 emissions
- Circular economic benefits: materials are compostable, re-processable, or degradable
- Commercially exciting production costs and business models
By enabling the widespread removal of AKD and ‘forever’ chemicals, and accelerating the adoption of biomaterials, Cellexcel is poised to make a significant impact across multiple industries while maintaining or improving material performance.
Anglia Innovation Partnership LLP, the campus management organisation for Norwich Research Park, facilitated pre-seed funding that enabled Cellexcel to prepare its business plans, retain talented staff and introduce key people drivers.
What next?
Backed by Cambridge Enterprise, New Anglia Capital, the Low Carbon Innovation Fund and local angel investors, Cellexcel remains committed to its core values of innovation, sustainability, and environmental stewardship.
The global market for sustainable materials is experiencing significant growth, driven by increasing environmental concerns and regulatory pressures to reduce the use of harmful chemicals such as AKD and PFAS. Cellexcel is strategically positioned to capitalise on this trend with its innovative Cellexcellent™ technology, targeting the paper and packaging sector.
Tim Pryce, Executive Chair of Cellexcel, said, “There are major benefits to Cellexcel of working with great associates at both UEA and Norwich Research Park. Firstly, they provide a great technical resource, right on our doorstep, but critically, the team at Anglia Innovation Partnership LLP, the science park management company at Norwich Research Park that manages campus-wide initiatives, facilitated pre-seed funding that enabled us to prepare our business plans, retain talented staff and introduce key people drivers, within multi-national global businesses. It’s provided a great launch pad for Cellexcel and will be able to do the same for other spinout companies.”
Timeline
2021
- Cellexcel is established as a spinout company from the University of East Anglia (UEA)
2022
- Cellexcel secures AIP Pre-Seed Enterprise Funds for ‘Commercial scale-up to license biocomposite material technology’
2024
- Cellexcel raises over £250,000 to accelerate commercialisation of unique carbon emission-reducing biomaterial technology
- Cellexcel announced as winner at the KPMG’s 11th annual Tech Innovator UK competition
- Cambridge Tech Week Start-up of the Year winner
2025
- Cellexcel raises over £550,000 to accelerate commercialisation
- Cellexcel is awarded an Innovation UK grant
- Cellexcel continues to build its impressive team with recruitment of an MD, Head of Operations and additional chemist (a post graduate from UEA)