BZERO raises €1.5 Million to scale the world’s thinnest high-strength home compostable film

BZERO, a Valencia-based biomaterials startup, has closed an oversubscribed €1.5 million seed round, bringing total investment raised to €2.5 million. Existing investors Ship2B Ventures, CTL Investments, and Torribas followed on, joined by Impact Shakers Ventures and Viscofan as new investors. The round brings together financial backers and strategic agri-food partners, combining capital with industrial expertise to accelerate commercial adoption.

Founded in 2021 by José Espí and Cristina Martín with a commitment to make plastics zero waste, zero emissions and zero cost difference. Through its proprietary thermoplastic starch (TPS) technology, BZERO produces home-compostable film as thin as 7 microns — thinner than a human hair — while keeping the mechanical strength of conventional plastic. The goal is to replace the low-density polyethylene (LDPE) found in everyday items like bags, labels, food nets, and flexible packaging at the same cost, just as new EU packaging rules push the industry toward greener alternatives.

"The plastic transition only works if bio-based alternatives can compete on cost, performance, and scale. We have built BZERO around that principle from the start. This round gives us the resources to move from proof-of-concept to commercial volumes - and to do it while holding the performance standards our customers and partners require." - José Espí, CEO and Co-Founder, BZERO.

“We backed José and his team at pre-seed to turn a lab-scale material into an industrial-ready product without losing sight of unit economics and environmental impact. BZERO is now converting its pilots into industrial contracts, which is why we've doubled down.” – Paula Cassà, fundraising and investment manager, Ship2B Ventures. 

"What attracted us to BZERO is its ability to combine sustainability with industrial reality. The team has developed an innovative solution that delivers value to customers while helping address the evolving regulatory landscape, including the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR). Having supported BZERO from the outset through technical collaboration, investing in the company was a natural next step as it brings this technology to market." – Charo Villarroel, Viscofan representative on the Board of Directors of BZERO.

The newly raised capital will support the industrial scaling of BZERO’s materials beyond its current production capacity of 300 tonnes per year, the expansion of pilot projects with leading food packaging companies, and the continued development of its proprietary bioplastic formulations.