NANOPLUME

NANOPLUME is reinventing insulation through its ultra-light, high performance, and 100% biodegradable bio-aerogels.

Heating and cooling account for nearly half of worldwide energy consumption and more than 40% of energy-related CO2 emissions, yet an estimated 60% of that energy is wasted, largely due to poor insulation. At the same time, around 80% of insulation materials are petrochemical-based, creating a significant environmental burden. Improving insulation at scale represents one of the most effective opportunities to increase energy efficiency, with the potential to reduce global CO₂ emissions by up to 1.4 gigatonnes annually.

Aerogels are among the most effective insulation materials available, but their high cost, brittleness, and limited scalability have prevented widespread commercial adoption. To overcome these barriers, NANOPLUME has developed a bio-based aerogel made from abundant natural materials, including biopolymers such as cellulose and naturally occurring minerals. The result is a durable, high-performance insulation material that retains exceptional thermal efficiency while being significantly faster and less energy-intensive to manufacture. By reducing production costs by 75%, NANOPLUME bio-aerogel is making next-generation insulation accessible to the built environment and other sectors, unlocking major gains in energy efficiency, space efficiency, and circularity. Compared with traditional insulation materials such as mineral wool, its bio-aerogel delivers three times greater insulating performance, is 60% thinner and lighter, and 100% biocompatible.

NANOPLUME emerged from Carbon13’s Venture Launchpad in 2024, founded by Theresa Hoffman, Tara Love and Tafadzwa Motsi to transform the future of insulation. Since launch, the company has raised more than $2.2 million in pre-seed funding and quickly established itself as one of the UK’s most promising climate technology ventures. Its momentum has been recognised through a series of prestigious awards, including the Royal Society of Chemistry’s Emerging Technologies Competition Energy Award (2025), the Cambridge Independent #21toWatch Award (2025), and both East of England Green Start-up of the Year and overall Start-up of the Year at the UK Start-Up Awards (2026).

With its first pilot tests in the built environment and the cold chain sectors underway, NANOPLUME is taking the crucial step from breakthrough material to a real-world insulation solution capable of reducing emissions at scale.