Sparxell’s innovative bio-inspired colour technology scales up to commercial production
Sparxell is a University of Cambridge spin-out founded in 2023 by Cambridge scientists Dr Benjamin Droguet and Professor Silvia Vignolini. The company produces natural colour pigments, inks, glitters, sequins and films using cellulose derived from wood pulp, with applications across the textiles and fashion, cosmetics, food and beverage, packaging, paints and coatings, and automotive sectors.
The innovation behind Sparxell’s colour platform technology lies in the use of cellulose microcrystals that self-assemble to reflect specific wavelengths of light. These plant-based pigments fall into the category of bio-inspired photonic materials and generate structural colour without the need for additional toxic colourants derived from petroleum, minerals or heavy metals.
Recently, Sparxell raised €4.2 million ($5 million) in funding to support its transition from pilot programmes to commercial-scale manufacturing, targeting tonne-scale production facilities by 2026. The investment follows a €1.9 million grant from the European Innovation Council (EIC) earlier this year.
According to Sparxell, its 100% cellulose-based pigments are biodegradable, require less water and energy, and outperform synthetic dyes in durability, as their structural colour does not fade. Even more importantly, the use of 100% cellulose pigments in cellulose-based textiles would enable recycling without the need for complex chemical separation and dye- extraction processes.
