The EU-Startups Podcast | Interview with Angela Ivanova, co-founder and CEO of LAM’ON

Join us for an interview with Angela Ivanova, the co-founder and CEO of LAM’ON Compostable Films, a Bulgarian company at the forefront of sustainable packaging solutions. 

Angela shares her journey of addressing one of the most pressing environmental challenges: the 1.2 million metric tons of laminated paper wasted annually. LAM’ON has developed bio-based, compostable laminating films and packaging foils that seamlessly integrate with paper recycling, offering a circular economy solution without compromising quality.

In this discussion, Angela dives into the challenges of building LAM’ON from the ground up. She reflects on the gender gap in entrepreneurship, the moments that led her to focus on biodegradable materials, and the hurdles of product development, industry adoption, and scaling a startup in Bulgaria. 

The conversation also explores the real-world impact of LAM’ON’s innovations. Angela discusses how companies are transitioning to their compostable films, the barriers to widespread adoption, and whether customers are driven by genuine environmental consciousness or regulatory pressures. 

With a sharp focus on the future of sustainable materials, she examines the role of technology, infrastructure, and consumer behaviour in making compostable packaging mainstream within the next five years.

• The current state of women in entrepreneurship and where the gender gap remains most pronounced.
• The motivation behind focusing on biodegradable laminating films as a career dedication.
• Critical observations from the pre-press and printing industry that inspired the need for change.
• The biggest challenges in developing LAM’ON’s product, from science to market adoption.
• The primary barriers to widespread adoption of compostable materials, including infrastructure and systemic limitations.