Carbon Cell, a materials innovation company, has raised £1.2m in a pre-seed round to scale its novel, plastic-free foam made from biochar and natural polymers. This round was led by Green Angel Ventures and Counteract, with participation from HERmesa, RCA Design and Innovation S/EIS Fund, and One Planet Capital.

At the core of Carbon Cell's solution is biochar, a carbon-rich material made from agricultural waste that would otherwise be burned or left to decompose. Combined with natural polymers, this creates a high-performance, fully compostable foam that not only avoids plastics and petrochemicals but also boasts a negative carbon footprint because of the carbon captured within the biochar used to make the material.