Inter IKEA Group backs Seprify’s €13.4M Series A to scale cellulose materials platform

Swiss Bio-Materials Pioneer Seprify Secures €13.4 Million to Revolutionize Titanium Dioxide Alternatives with Cellulose Innovation

In a landmark move for sustainable materials science, Zurich-based biotech innovator Seprify has closed a €13.4 million Series A funding round, marking a pivotal step toward scaling its groundbreaking cellulose-based platform designed to replace titanium dioxide across multiple high-impact industries. The funding round, led by strategic investor Inter IKEA Group alongside a consortium of sustainability-focused venture capital firms, signals growing confidence in bio-based materials as viable, scalable alternatives to conventional industrial ingredients.

Titanium dioxide, a ubiquitous white pigment and opacifier, is found in everything from sunscreens and cosmetics to processed foods, paints, and even pet food. While effective, its production is energy-intensive, and regulatory scrutiny over its safety—particularly in food and personal care—has intensified in recent years. Seprify’s answer is a proprietary cellulose platform that promises not only to match the performance of titanium dioxide but to do so with a dramatically lower environmental footprint and enhanced safety profile.

The investment round attracted a diverse group of backers united by a commitment to circular economy principles. Alongside Inter IKEA Group, participants include Una Terra Early Growth Fund, Zürcher Kantonalbank (ZKB), Cambridge Enterprise Ventures, Kickfund, and other aligned investors. This coalition reflects a broader industry trend: major corporations and venture capital firms are increasingly betting on bio-based materials that can integrate seamlessly into existing supply chains while meeting rigorous performance standards.

Seprify’s platform is built on a foundation of deep process expertise, application-specific knowledge, and a robust intellectual property portfolio that spans the entire value chain—from production methods to end-use applications. The company’s flagship products, SilvaLuma and SilvaAlba, are already attracting attention from global brands. SilvaLuma, a cellulose-based SPF booster, offers cosmetics and personal care manufacturers a natural, non-toxic alternative to synthetic UV filters, while SilvaAlba provides a food-grade whitening solution poised to replace titanium dioxide in everything from confectionery to dairy products.

What sets Seprify apart is not just its innovative materials, but its readiness for industrial-scale deployment. The company’s technology has been validated at Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) 7-9—a classification that indicates near-commercial or fully commercial readiness—through hands-on collaboration with industry partners. This validation, coupled with ongoing supplier qualification processes and early commercial contracts, positions Seprify as a serious contender in the race to decarbonize and detoxify global supply chains.

Currently, Seprify is engaged with over 100 customer organizations, ranging from active evaluators to those already in early commercial supply agreements. This broad engagement underscores the platform’s versatility and the urgent demand for safer, more sustainable alternatives to incumbent materials.

Lukas Schertel, co-founder and CEO of Seprify, emphasized that the new funding will enable the company to double down on execution and scale. “Our immediate priority is delivering consistent quality and reliable supply, meeting the operational standards large industrial customers require,” Schertel said. “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.”

The involvement of Inter IKEA Group is particularly noteworthy. As one of the world’s largest furniture and home goods retailers, IKEA has made sustainability a cornerstone of its business strategy. The company is actively seeking materials that can realistically replace high-impact incumbents while fitting into existing manufacturing and recycling systems. Seprify’s cellulose platform, with its maturity and operational readiness, represents exactly the kind of innovation IKEA is looking for.

Robert Carleke, Innovation Ventures Manager at Inter IKEA Group, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership. “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.”

The implications of Seprify’s work extend far beyond any single industry. By offering a bio-based, non-toxic, and scalable alternative to titanium dioxide, the company is helping to address some of the most pressing challenges facing modern manufacturing: environmental sustainability, regulatory compliance, and consumer safety. Moreover, the versatility of the cellulose platform means it could eventually find applications in emerging fields such as printed electronics, further expanding its potential impact.

As Seprify moves from validation to full-scale commercialization, the company is poised to become a key player in the global transition to sustainable materials. With strong financial backing, a proven technology platform, and a clear vision for the future, Seprify is not just offering an alternative to titanium dioxide—it’s offering a blueprint for how bio-based innovation can drive meaningful change across industries.

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