What Is Cruz Foam?
Cruz Foam™ isn’t just packaging — it’s the world’s first commercially scaled bio-foam. This innovative material is setting a new standard for sustainability, designed to replace traditional EPE foam at a competitive cost. Delivered through an existing network, Cruz Foam protects shipped items while gracefully disintegrating after use, just like nature intended. It’s a circular materials company creating compostable packaging foams out of food waste, inspired by the ocean and driven to spark a sea of change in materials science. Headquartered in Santa Cruz, California, Cruz Foam produces earth-digestible protective packaging and eco-friendly solutions that offer a sustainable alternative to single-use plastics.
Main Benefits of Cruz Foam
Here’s why Cruz Foam stands out:
- Recognized as one of TIME’s Best Inventions of 2023 and Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies of 2024 for Social Good.
- One of the only Lomi-Approved packaging materials, ensuring it meets strict compostability standards.
- Patented, circular products made from biopolymers that comply with ASTM D6400 and D5338 compostability standards, tested at the University of Wisconsin ERIC Lab.
- Works seamlessly with all existing foam conversion platforms, making the transition frictionless for producers and converters.
- Offers cost competitiveness while using the existing supply chain, making it easy to adopt without breaking the bank.
- Enables a better environmental footprint with less dry ice, lower carbon emissions, and a superior unboxing experience.
Innovative Applications of Cruz Foam
Cruz Foam isn’t just about replacing foam — it’s about revolutionizing how products are shipped. The company has introduced a sustainable, compostable, insulated cold chain shipper designed to safely deliver perishable goods door-to-door. This means fresh food, pharmaceuticals, and other temperature-sensitive items can be shipped with confidence, all while reducing environmental impact. Additionally, Cruz Foam offers a specialized shipper tailored for wine and spirits, aligning perfectly with brands that prioritize environmental values without compromising product safety.
Science Behind the Magic
Behind Cruz Foam’s breakthrough products lies rigorous scientific effort. The material is crafted using biopolymers derived from food waste, creating a foam that’s not only compostable but also performs better than traditional materials. Tested extensively, including at the University of Wisconsin ERIC Lab, Cruz Foam meets ASTM standards for compostability, ensuring it breaks down efficiently in industrial composting environments. This scientific foundation supports the company’s mission to provide sustainable packaging solutions that don’t sacrifice performance.
Seamless Industry Integration
One of Cruz Foam’s standout features is its compatibility with existing manufacturing and supply chains. It works with all foam conversion platforms, allowing producers and converters to switch to a sustainable alternative without hassle. This frictionless transition means companies can adopt Cruz Foam without overhauling their processes or investing in new equipment. The result? A smoother path toward sustainability that’s accessible to a wide range of industries, including consumer-packaged goods, electronics, appliances, and durable goods.
Project Impact on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
- SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production — by promoting compostable, circular packaging solutions.
- SDG 13: Climate Action — through reducing carbon footprints and minimizing plastic waste.
- SDG 14: Life Below Water — by preventing ocean pollution with biodegradable materials inspired by the sea.
- SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure — fostering innovation in sustainable materials science.
- SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals — collaborating with industry leaders to scale impact.
Mission-Driven and Award-Winning
Cruz Foam is more than a company — it’s a mission-driven force creating impact at scale. By empowering industry leaders to be catalysts for a cleaner environment, Cruz Foam is helping reshape the packaging landscape. Its impressive list of accolades, including Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies of 2024 for Social Good, reflects its commitment to sustainability and innovation. With a focus on circularity, compostability, and cost-effectiveness, Cruz Foam is proving that eco-friendly packaging can be both practical and groundbreaking.
