Two Isle of Wight entrepreneurs have secured £1.5 million in funding to further develop their pioneering biodegradable balloon technology.
Charlotte Melia and Christie-Lee Molgaard, who both attended Sandown High School, are among the co-founders of British clean technology start-up Bioloon.
The County Press previously reported on the pair's invention of what was described as the world's first biodegradable balloon.
Now, their company, co-founded with Professor Jason Hallett and Dr Juliana Cumming, has secured £1.5 million in investment to further develop its latex formula and prepare for commercial production.
The funding, raised entirely from angel investors, initially values Bioloon at £6 million.
Charlotte, 40, and Christie, 38, began their journey after becoming concerned about balloon waste through their international events business, D&F Creative.
They funded research at Imperial College London into developing a biodegradable alternative to conventional latex products.
During the Covid pandemic, the pair invested their last £30,000 into the project, before a breakthrough came more than three years later.
Dr Cumming, then a PhD student, discovered a material that could retain the functionality of conventional latex without the vulcanisation process used in traditional rubber manufacturing.
Initial tests suggest the new material can biodegrade in approximately nine months, although external regulation testing is still underway.
Bioloon is now preparing for manufacturing trials in January 2027, with hopes of getting products onto shop shelves by spring 2028.
Charlotte, the company's chief executive, said: “Next steps will now be rapid.
“We’re moving from lab to factory with our focus this quarter on turning Bioloon into a format that runs on existing balloon production lines with no new infrastructure and at the same cost.
“We’re also developing the colour range. Manufacturing trials are planned for January 2027 with leading global balloon makers in South America and Europe.”
Charlotte said the technology could eventually extend beyond balloons.
“The same chemistry can transform gloves, medical products like catheters and even condoms,” she said.
Bioloon's other co-founders are Professor Jason Hallett and Dr Juliana Cumming.
The investment is expected to fund the company's development until February 2028, ahead of another funding round.
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