From wetlands to wardrobes – British FashionTech startup Ponda raises over €2 million for sustainable fashion innovation

Ponda, the Bristol-based biomaterials business introducing regenerative-material supply chains, today introduced the close of a EUR2.09 million Seed financing round to commercialise its front runner insulation, BioPuff.

The oversubscribed round was co-led by Faber (Lisbon) and Counteract (London), with engagement from PDS Ventures, Evenlode Influence and the Royal University of Art– bringing overall financing to EUR5.6 million, integrating financial backing with considerable non-dilutive assistance from Innovate UK and global acknowledgment via the H&M Structure’s International Adjustment Honor and King Charles III’s Terra Carta Layout Laboratory.

“ We have actually developed BioPuff to satisfy the requiring efficiency criteria of leading brand names as a straight option to artificial and animal-based insulation, while continuing to be expense affordable to make it possible for extensive fostering,” states Julian Ellis-Brown, chief executive officer and founder of Ponda. “ Every coat loaded with BioPuff does not simply prevent discharges, it straight funds peatland remediation, among the world’s most effective carbon sinks“

In 2025, the European lasting FashionTech landscape has actually been energetic, with a number of considerable financing rounds signalling proceeded capitalist passion in technology-enabled sustainability remedies.

Paris-based Fairly Made elevated EUR15 million to progress its system for determining and enhancing ecological and social effect in vogue supply chains, while London start-up Fit Collective protected EUR3.4 million to scale its AI-driven sizing modern technology focused on decreasing returns and waste. With each other these news stand for a minimum of EUR18.4 million bought the field until now this year.

Within this context, Ponda’s Seed round fits within a bigger pattern of early-stage financial investment right into firms creating lasting, round and data-driven technologies for the garment industry, while using a distinctive UK-based payment via its regenerative, plant-based products technique.

Matt Isaacs, founder and companion at Counteract, includes: “ The Ponda group symbolizes the uncommon mix of deep clinical proficiency and visionary regenerative management; their capacity to browse the frontier of marsh regrowth and product scientific research to establish the scalable, carbon-negative option of BioPuff is greatly remarkable. We are pleased to back a group with the abilities to make planet-positive products the international criterion“

Established In 2020, Ponda is a biomaterials business creating BioPuff, a regenerative, plant-based insulation made from marsh plants expanded on rewetted peatlands. Started out of Imperial University London and the Royal University of Art, Ponda is introducing just how efficiency products are made– connecting environment remediation, regenerative farming, and tidy production.

BioPuff is a first-of-its-kind, plant-based insulation made from Typha, a marsh plant grown via paludiculture– the rewetting and lasting farming of abject peatlands.

By connecting product technology with environment remediation, Ponda’s modern technology generates a high-performance thermal insulation that is currently at multi-tonne manufacturing range. According to the business, BioPuff has equal thermal homes to goose-down whilst being substantially less expensive and expanded from plants that restore marshes.

“ By combining regenerative seaside marsh farming with a sophisticated product with solid capacity in fabrics and past, Ponda is well placed to open considerable company chances throughout numerous sectors while supplying significant biodiversity effect at range” stated Rita Sousa, Companion at Faber.

Throughout the globe, weakened peatlands release 2 Gigatonnes of carbon discharges yearly and are an expanding flooding obligation– according to information offered by Ponda. The business companions with landowners to rewet these landscapes, expand fast-renewing Typha plants, and transform the biomass right into high-performance fibers.

This supposedly produces numerous advantages:

• Flooding reduction: Rewetted peatlands work as all-natural water barriers, soaking up and reducing surface area water.
• Environment advantages: Brought back marshes protect against carbon discharges from drained pipes peat dirts and boost biodiversity.
• Round production: Typha fibers are become BioPuff, a plant-based, regeneratively sourced option to both polyester and goose down.

Among the farmers in Ponda’s supply chain, Will Certainly Barnard, included: “ Hereafter year’s flooding, it’s noticeable that recovered marshes can play a critical function in shielding farmland and farmers’ incomes. Collaborating with Ponda reveals these landscapes can remain effective also under stress like environment adjustment and develop brand-new business chances. Efforts similar to this aid press the federal government’s program ahead while enhancing country strength and future earnings streams.“

By growing Typha on rewetted land, Ponda changes a significant discharges resource right into a carbon sink– presumably staying clear of approximately 30 tonnes of carbon monoxide TWO e per hectare annually. At range, the business approximates its system can make it possible for the regrowth of numerous hectares of marshes, making it possible for gigatonne-level decreases in the future.

The business’s Bristol center currently houses pilot-scale fiber handling, mixing, and prototyping abilities, permitting Ponda to quickly examine and supply BioPuff at commercial criteria. Ponda has actually currently partnered with significant international brand names consisting of Berghaus, Stella McCartney, Parley for the Oceans, and Lamb Inc, giving product models and co-developing garments.

While Ponda’s very early partnerships have actually concentrated on exterior and style garments, the business lays out that BioPuff appropriates for a variety of applications past garments– consisting of soft playthings, home fabrics, furniture, bed linens and various other industries that need light-weight, cozy, and sturdy insulation.

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