Edible packaging start-up WikiCell Designs lands $10 million in financing

By D.C. Denison, Globe Staff

WikiCell Designs Inc., a company based in Cambridge and Paris, France that develops edible forms of food and beverage packaging, said Tuesday that it has closed a $10 million round of financing co-led by Flagship Ventures and Polaris Venture Partners.

The company also said that co-founder Robert Connelly will lead WikiCell Designs as the chief executive. Noubar Afeyan of Flagship Ventures and Terry McGuire of Polaris Venture Partners will join the WikiCell Designs board.

WikiCell Designs is developing edible forms of packaging that enclose food or drinks in ways similar to how nature protects foods such as grapes, oranges, or coconuts: users will be able to wash and eat the packaging, like the skin of a grape, or could toss it, like the peel of an orange, since it will be biodegradable. WikiCell Designs is planning to introduce its first edible packaged products in 2013.

“WikiCell Designs offers the consumer a path to reducing their plastic and paper footprint while enjoying a truly delicious and unique eating experience. By replacing plastic and other forms of packaging with delicious natural edible packaging, Wikicell can have a profound impact on the world,” said Connelly in a release. “This technology is applicable to a vast amount of food and beverages and we intend to market products direct to consumer and in retail settings, with our own branded products and with partner brands.”