Pluumo

Summary

Circular solutions are needed to save our planet. Created from waste feathers, pluumo is designed to replace expanded polystyrene as a thermal packaging material. It aims to enable fresh food deliveries to be insulated in a more sustainable manner. pluumo fights plastic, one feather at a time.

• Patent-pending insulation matches performance of expanded polystyrene
• Raised £450,000 in awards and grant funding to date
• Incoming legislation & public awareness driving green packaging growth
• Consistent inbound enquiries from potential customers

Idea

pluumo is a sustainable thermal packaging material made from waste feathers.

To prevent spoilage, fresh food deliveries need thermal packaging to keep ingredients chilled. Unfortunately, plastics such as expanded polystyrene (EPS) are normally used and food packaging generated 141,000 tons of EPS waste in the EU in 2019.

Our patent-pending material matches the performance of EPS, keeping items chilled for up to 40 hours. Made from an abundant waste resource, it is designed to be composted or reused. Thanks to feathers, food deliveries can become more sustainable.

1. Launched in 2018 to supply Willowbrook Farm (UK) - 10k units to date
2. Increased batch production to an estimated 4,000 units a day
3. Accredited laboratory results suggest passing of composting standard EN13432
4. Secured £450k in grants/awards including £140k via InnovateUK

Growth is occurring in the $137b online food delivery industry. Gousto (meal kits) matched their 2019 revenue by June 2020, selling 5m meals a month. Plus, 74% of consumers would pay more for green packaging, with e-commerce sustainable packaging predicted to be worth $65b by 2023. 'Plastic Taxes' could further accelerate change.

This year, we received over 50 initial enquiries from companies interested in using pluumo for their deliveries. Now we plan to scale production and expanding into the wider UK market.

Help us fight plastic, one feather at a time!

Team

Our co-founders Ryan and Elena met in 2016 (ironically playing badminton!) and both believe that more sustainable solutions are needed now more than ever. This award-winning team feature on the Forbes 30 under 30 Europe List, and as well as being Echoing Green Climate Fellows.

Ryan Robinson - Co-Founder/CEO

Ryan trained as a biologist, having studied the effects of air pollution on the lungs and how astronauts survive in space. A problem solver through and through, his dreams of feather-based sustainable future.

Elena Dieckmann - Co-Founder/Head of Innovation (Part-Time)

Elena recently completed her PhD, studying the potential of waste feathers. With a background in design, she brings a unique 'outside of the box thinking' to every problem. She is a recipient of the InnovateUK INFOCUS - Women In Innovation Award.

Louise Anderson - Head of Technical Research

A material scientist with 3 years of experience as the scientific lead within the startup environment. She has filed several patents, working with global FMCG brands across cosmetics, textiles, and household sectors.

Marco Attanasio - Customer Insight Advisor

Head of Strategic Projects at Butternut Box, Ex-Head of Business Operations at Gousto.

Stephen Woodgate - Feather Advisor

Ex-President of the World Rendering Organisation, decades of experience with the challenges of surplus feathers.