Bristol-based biomaterials startup Ponda has secured €2.09 million in Seed funding to accelerate commercialisation of its plant-based insulation material, BioPuff.
The round—co-led by Faber and Counteract with participation from PDS Ventures, Evenlode Impact, and the Royal College of Art—brings Ponda’s total funding to €5.6 million, combining venture capital with Innovate UK support and global recognition from the H&M Foundation and King Charles III’s Terra Carta Design Lab.
A Regenerative Alternative To Synthetic And Animal-Based Insulation
BioPuff is engineered as a performance-grade replacement for synthetic fillers and goose down. Made from Typha grown on rewetted peatlands, the material is lightweight, cost-competitive, and fully plant-derived. According to CEO Julian Ellis-Brown, each BioPuff-filled garment directly contributes to peatland restoration—one of Earth’s most effective natural carbon sinks.
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Riding The Momentum In European Sustainable FashionTech
Europe’s FashionTech sector has seen notable investment in 2025. Paris-based Fairly Made raised €15M to enhance lifecycle impact measurement, while London’s Fit Collective closed €3.4M for AI-driven sizing tools. Against this backdrop, Ponda’s Seed round reinforces growing investor interest in regenerative biomaterials and circular solutions—positioning the UK startup at the intersection of ecosystem restoration and high-performance textile innovation.
Turning Wetland Restoration Into High-Performance Materials
Founded in 2020 out of Imperial College London and the Royal College of Art, Ponda combines regenerative agriculture, clean manufacturing, and material science. Through paludiculture—cultivation on rewetted peatlands—the company transforms fast-growing Typha into fibres with thermal performance comparable to goose down. The process is carbon-negative, scalable, and directly tied to biodiversity restoration.
Transforming Degraded Peatlands Into Carbon Sinks
Global peatlands emit around 2 gigatonnes of CO₂ annually when degraded. Ponda works with landowners to rewet these landscapes, cultivate Typha, and convert the biomass into BioPuff. Farmers in Ponda’s network report improved flood resilience and new revenue streams as restored wetlands regain ecological and economic value.
Scaling Production And Brand Partnerships
From its Bristol facility, Ponda produces fibres, blends, and prototypes at industrial standards. The company already collaborates with global fashion and outdoor brands including Berghaus, Stella McCartney, Parley for the Oceans, and Sheep Inc., co-developing garments using BioPuff. Beyond apparel, the insulation is suited for home textiles, toys, bedding, and other lightweight filled products.
About Ponda
Ponda is a UK biomaterials company creating regenerative textiles from wetland-grown fibres. Its flagship product, BioPuff®, is a plant-based, high-performance alternative to goose down, delivering warmth while restoring peatlands, capturing carbon, boosting biodiversity, and supporting farmers through a traceable, climate-positive supply chain.
