Danish biotech company Cellugy has secured €8.1 million in EU funding to scale up production of EcoFLEXY, a biodegradable alternative to microplastics in cosmetics. The grant, from the EU's LIFE Programme, will aid the commercialization of EcoFLEXY, a cellulose-based material intended for use in products like creams, gels, and toothpaste. Cellugy asserts that EcoFLEXY is the first material to replicate the performance of fossil-based carbomers, commonly used for their texturizing and shelf-life extending properties in cosmetics. Carbomers currently dominate the market, despite concerns about microplastic pollution.