This Dutch Packaging Startup Just Landed Funding to Take On Plastic

Jan de Vries · 2026-10-30

PaperFoam, a Dutch company that makes biodegradable packaging from starch and natural fibers, just secured a €2 million loan (about $2.2 million) from Invest International. The money will help expand its production facility in the Czech Republic and boost working capital for its plants in Malaysia and the U.S. Invest International is a Dutch government-backed organization based in The Hague. It supports Dutch and Dutch-linked businesses with financing, market knowledge, and sector expertise. Jeroen Plag, Chief Investment Officer at Invest International, said, “PaperFoam is a great example of a Dutch innovator that has travelled a difficult path from promising technology to an internationally scalable company. Our involvement dates back to 2020, when we supported the company during its first expansion into the Czech Republic.” He added, “With this new investment, we’re helping to enable the next phase of growth at a time when traditional financiers still view it as too risky. For the Netherlands, it’s crucial that we help green leaders in the manufacturing industry scale up. This way, we retain innovation within our own country and demonstrate that sustainability and international competitiveness go hand in hand.” ### From IT company to packaging pioneer Founded in 1998 by Vertis Holding, a former Dutch IT company, PaperFoam is headquartered in Barneveld. It has production facilities in the Netherlands, Czech Republic, United States, and Malaysia. PaperFoam b.v. is owned by PaperFoam Holding b.v. Since March 2023, Nissha Co. Ltd., a Japanese stock-listed company, owns 30% of PaperFoam Holding b.v. The remaining 70% is held by Sustainable Pioneers Holding b.v., a Dutch entity. ### A fully compostable alternative to plastic and paper PaperFoam develops packaging solutions based on starch and natural fibers as a complete alternative to conventional plastic and paper. Using its patented foaming technology and natural raw materials, the company creates lightweight packaging with an “exceptionally low” carbon footprint. The material is fully compostable, and the fibers can be easily recycled into paper. PaperFoam Plus is thicker and stronger than standard PaperFoam and is designed as a sustainable alternative to EPS (Expanded Polystyrene). It offers protective qualities (drop-tested up to 11 lbs), is up to 0.2 inches thick, and is compostable in both home and industrial composters. The company serves customers in consumer electronics, medical, dry food, and cosmetics sectors. Willem Derkman, CEO of PaperFoam, said, “Developing an innovative and sustainable alternative to traditional packaging requires time, investment, and partners who are willing to look further ahead. Thanks to the ongoing support from Invest International, we have been able to take important steps in our international growth. This funding helps us further expand our production capacity and efficiently serve new markets and clients.” According to the company, production machinery from Dutch suppliers Kuyer Metaal in Nijkerk and Shuffle-Mix in Barneveld makes the expansion possible in part. > “PaperFoam is a great example of a Dutch innovator that has travelled a difficult path from promising technology to an internationally scalable company.” – Jeroen Plag, CIO at Invest International With this fresh capital, PaperFoam is poised to scale its sustainable packaging solutions and take on the global plastic problem, one starch-based package at a time.