A Santa Cruz maker of compostable packaging material is bringing on board a pair of celebrity advisors as it gears up for mass production.
Just don't ask, "Dude, where's my Styrofoam?"
Ashton Kutcher, star of the classic stoner comedy "Dude, Where's My Car?" and Leonardo DiCaprio are going to be lending advice to Cruz Foam Inc., the startup announced Wednesday. Both actors also invested in the company.
"We see huge potential in the adoption of Cruz Foam's consumer packaging as the industry moves away from petroleum-based products and towards new biomaterial technologies," Kutcher said in a news release.
Cruz sells packaging foam made from "upcycled" seafood waste, such as shrimp shells. The company is preparing to ramp up production. It announced Wednesday it's opened a new manufacturing facility, also located in Santa Cruz, where it will employ about 10 workers.
"We are excited to enter a new phase of growth," said John Felts, the company's co-founder and CEO, in the news release.
Cruz sells its packaging products to companies including Whirlpool Corp., the Michigan-based maker of kitchen and laundry appliances. The startup plans to enlist and announce more big-name customers later this year, according to Cruz spokesperson Leslie Nakajima.
Kutcher and DiCaprio invested in Cruz's $2.5 million seed round last year. The company's work to reduce the environmental impact of shipping was the primary reason that DiCaprio invested, the "Titanic" actor said in the news release.
"The mission to eliminate single-use plastics in the ongoing battle for a cleaner and more sustainable environment makes me excited to join as an investor and advisor," DiCaprio said. "I look forward to what we'll achieve together."
