Summary

Cruz Foam is creating compostable (industrial and home) alternatives for the packaging industry that has traditionally overwhelmingly used plastic-based materials like polystyrene and plastic bubble wrap. In contrast, Cruz Foam is made from diverted agricultural and food industry waste streams.  Cruz Foam can be used in many applications like packaging, insulation, fillers, etc. Although the company is creating their products using mostly agricultural waste, the company started by using chitin, which is the most abundant polymer in the oceans and is primarily found in cell walls, insect skeletons, and crustacean shells. Six to eight million tons of crustacean shells go to waste every year, making it a viable waste stream. (Source) The final product is certified compostable (ASTM D6400) and dissolves safely in curbside recycling systems. In 2023, Time Magazine recognized Cruz Foam as one of the best inventions of 2023. (Source) The company is actively supplying industries such as cold-chain logistics, electronics, and wine & spirits, in partnership with major distributors like Atlantic Packaging. (Source)

Story

Founder John Felts is a surfer and was disturbed by the pollution he saw in the ocean while surfing. While earning a master’s degree in materials engineering at the University of Washington, he met Dr. Marco Rolandi, an Assistant Professor of Materials Science and Engineering and fellow avid surfer, who had previously worked with chitin. Together they founded Cruz Foam in 2017.

Pic credit: Cruz Foam (top and right)