Swiss bio-materials company Seprify has announced that its cellulose platform has moved from pilot validation into procurement-ready industrial supply. The development allows manufacturers to shift from product trials to repeatable sourcing and longer-term commercial agreements. The transition comes as companies seek alternatives to high-emission materials used across multiple industries.

The announcement follows the company’s €13.4 million Series A funding round, which includes participation from Inter IKEA Group alongside Una Terra Early Growth Fund, Zürcher Kantonalbank (ZKB), Cambridge Enterprise Ventures, Kickfund, and other investors aligned with circular economy goals. The funding will support production scale-up and commercial rollout across priority markets.

From pilot validation to commercial supply

Seprify’s cellulose platform has been validated at Technology Readiness Levels 7–9 through collaboration with industry partners. This stage of development indicates that the technology has progressed beyond laboratory testing and has been demonstrated in real-world industrial environments.

The company is now progressing through supplier qualification processes and early commercial contracts. Engagements are underway with more than 100 customer organisations, spanning cosmetics and personal care, food and pet food, and coatings.

By reaching procurement-ready supply, manufacturers can move beyond evaluation phases and begin integrating the materials into existing supply chains. The platform is intended to provide a bio-based option for applications where traditional materials such as titanium dioxide have been widely used.

Funding supports scale-up and industrial production

The €13.4 million Series A round will be used to expand production capacity through manufacturing partners. Seprify plans to scale output to hundreds of tonnes per year while continuing engineering work for future industrial-scale capacity.

The investment also supports the company’s commercial rollout strategy across its core markets. These include cosmetics and personal care products, food applications, and industrial coatings.

For manufacturers evaluating new materials, reliable supply is a key step before procurement commitments can be made. Seprify’s transition to industrial supply aims to provide consistent production volumes and operational reliability required by large industrial customers.

Focus on product performance and supply consistency

According to Seprify, the platform is built on a combination of process expertise, application knowledge, and intellectual property covering manufacturing processes, product formulations, and end-use applications.

Two flagship product grades illustrate the range of applications the company is targeting. SilvaLuma™ is designed as a cellulose-based SPF booster for cosmetics and personal care products. SilvaAlba™ is a food-grade whitening ingredient positioned as an alternative to titanium dioxide.

Titanium dioxide has long been used as a whitening and opacity agent in food and cosmetics. Interest in replacement materials has increased as regulatory and environmental scrutiny of certain mineral-based ingredients has grown in recent years.

Seprify says its materials aim to provide similar functional properties while using cellulose derived from natural sources.

“Our immediate priority is delivering consistent quality and reliable supply,” said Lukas Schertel, Co-founder & CEO of Seprify. “Our immediate priority is delivering consistent quality and reliable supply, meeting the operational standards large industrial customers require. In the near term, that means supporting cosmetics and personal care, including suncare, as well as food and pet food. We are also scaling for higher-volume applications such as coatings, inks and printed electronics, reflecting the broader potential of our cellulose platform.”

Industry collaboration and strategic investment

Strategic investors are playing a role in the company’s commercial development. Inter IKEA Group participated in the funding round and is exploring potential uses for the technology.

Large manufacturing groups are increasingly assessing new materials that can integrate into existing production and recycling systems without requiring major infrastructure changes. Cellulose-based materials have attracted attention due to their availability and compatibility with established processes.

Robert Carleke, Innovation Ventures Manager at Inter IKEA Group, commented on the partnership.

“At IKEA, we look for solutions that can realistically replace high-impact incumbent materials while fitting into existing manufacturing and recycling systems. Seprify’s cellulose platform has reached a level of maturity that makes this a credible path to explore — not only for specific applications such as coatings and surface finishes, but as a scalable materials platform with the consistency and operational readiness required for industrial use. We’re looking forward to this exploratory project.”

Expanding industrial applications

While the company’s initial commercial focus includes cosmetics, food, and pet food applications, the platform has been developed with broader industrial uses in mind. Potential applications include coatings, inks, and printed electronics, which typically require materials with controlled particle properties and consistent performance.

Scaling production through established manufacturing partners is expected to support these higher-volume markets. The approach allows Seprify to expand capacity while maintaining control over product quality and supply reliability.

Industrial adoption of new materials often depends on extensive testing and qualification within customer production lines. By reaching procurement-ready supply, Seprify is aiming to shorten the gap between material evaluation and commercial use.

As companies across manufacturing sectors assess alternatives to conventional materials, the availability of consistent industrial supply is expected to remain a key factor in adoption. Seprify’s latest milestone positions its cellulose platform for broader commercial engagement as customers move from pilot trials to formal procurement discussions.