Pune-based science startup Zerocircle, which develops natural alternatives to plastic, has raised a total of ₹25 million with 3one4 Capital joining its investor base. Existing investors include Rainmatter Capital, 1Crowd, LNB Group and 7th Gen, the company said.
Funding includes venture capital investments as well as scientific grants and awards collected over the years. The company said the fresh capital will be used to accelerate deep-tech research and expand manufacturing of plastic-free materials for food and consumer packaging.
Commenting on the milestone, Neha Jain, Founder and Managing Director, Zerocircle said, “In our first year of commercialization, we have replaced 1.6 million units of plastic in food packaging. Our biggest milestone was achieving price parity with polyethylene (PE), a major source of microplastic leakage.” She added that many brands face a gap not in intent but in access to suitable materials, noting: “With this round of funding, we are focusing on the most critical food contact applications and building materials around the way India and the world eat.”
Nruthya Madappa, partner at 3one4 Capital, said Zerocircle operates at the intersection of deep tech and large-scale impact, highlighting the company’s ambitions to drive adoption of plastic alternatives.
The company said it is the only materials company in Asia certified as 100% plastic-free under the EU Single-Use Plastics Directive and is expanding in India, Europe, the UK and Oceania with pilot partnerships such as Zomato and Swiggy.
Published on January 22, 2026