Backed by over a decade of biomaterials research at VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, Elea & Lili is commercializing a cellulose-based alternative designed to replace fossil-based superabsorbent polymers in disposable diapers at an industrial scale – without compromising performance.

Elea & Lili, a deep-tech startup originating from VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, has raised €2.5 million in seed funding to industrialisz its patented Cellulose Super Absorbent (CSA) – a microplastic-free, biodegradable alternative to conventional superabsorbent polymers (SAP). VTT has transferred the underlying technology and IP to the newly established company.

The company’s first commercial applications target two massive global markets: disposable diapers and agriculture, which both currently dependent on fossil-based absorbent materials that generate long-lasting plastic waste and microplastic pollution. It is working with leading cellulose and biomaterials companies to scale CSA from pilot to industrial production. These partnerships support the company’s ambition to build a new global material category. 

The funding was led by Lifeline Ventures and will accelerate pilot production, industrial partnerships, regulatory validation, and first commercial launches in the U.S. and Europe.  The round also included Ikorni Invest Oy Ab, and Baltiska Handels Sverige AB, representing long-term industrial and sustainability-focused capital.

Elea & Lili is fundamentally a biomaterials technology company. Its core innovation, Cellulose Super Absorbent (CSA), replaces the last non-biodegradable component in modern diapers: fossil-based superabsorbent polymers. CSA, made from cellulose, is biodegradable and microplastic-free, compatible with existing diaper production lines, and demonstrates absorption performance comparable to conventional SAP. The material has undergone safety and skin compatibility testing in accordance with relevant ISO standards. 

In agriculture, superabsorbent polymers are widely used in agriculture to retain water and improve nutrient efficiency. The fossil-based polymers in current products are mixed directly into the soil, resulting in permanent plastics ending up in farmland. From 2028 onwards, EU regulation  will restrict the use of fossil-based plastic components that persist in soil. CSA™provides a biodegradable solution for water retention, reduced irrigation demand, improved nutrient delivery, and regenerative agriculture solutions – without leaving persistent plastic residues in soil.

“Hygiene and agriculture are equally strategic entry points for us. In both markets, absorbent materials are mission-critical components – and today they are fossil-based. We are replacing them with a scalable biomaterial,” says Tatu Miettinen, CEO and Co-Founder.

The idea for Elea & Lili began in 2017 when CEO Tatu Miettinen became aware of the environmental footprint of disposable diapers after the birth of his first child.

“In 2019, the birth of my daughter Elea was medically complex and involved time in neonatal intensive care. The experience profoundly reshaped our family’s perspective. At that moment I decided: if she recovers, I will dedicate myself to building something meaningful and sustainable for the next generation,” says Miettinen.