Zurich-based Una Terra closes €50M Circular Economy Growth fund to cut plastic waste and CO2 emissions

Zurich-based Una Terra, a venture capital and growth equity platform, announced a €50M close of its Circular Economy Growth Fund.

The company secured equity from Italy’s CDP Venture Capital SGR through its Green Transition Fund PNRR, the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation (FPA2), Deutsche Nachhaltigkeit (DN – German Sustainability), and selected forward-looking family offices.

The fund aims to reduce 1 million tonnes of plastic waste, about 100 billion plastic bottles, and reduce CO2 emissions by 2 gigatonnes, which is equal to the yearly emissions of around 430 million cars.

“We see sustainability not as a cost, but as an opportunity for additional value creation. We deliver superior investment returns whilst catalysing industries to transform into new powerful ecosystems, where sustainability can be monetised and creates significant economic and financial value,” states Luca Zerbini, CEO and Managing Partner of Una Terra.

Designed for systemic impact and financial returns

The focus of Una Terra is on Series A+ growth-stage companies across Europe, the Middle East and North America, with the potential to transform entire industries through a circular economy approach – a multi-trillion-dollar market transition gaining global traction (Age of Transformation 2025, McKinsey 2022).

The Swiss firm backs technology-led, revenue-generating companies with resilient, future-ready business models and strong economic fundamentals.

Fund utilisation

The Swiss VC is actively deploying capital into a strong pipeline of high-impact ventures. Previous successful investments include:

• Pulpex – Paper pulp-based liquid packaging technology

• Greyparrot – AI for waste analytics

• Another Tomorrow – circular fashion and traceability

Olivier Wenden, Vice Chairman and CEO of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, which is among the closest investors and partners of the fund, says, “Our future depends on our capacity to scale up solutions for more resilient societies in the face of climate change and biodiversity loss. We thus need more bold actions like Una Terra to reconcile economy, finance, and sustainability.”

Una Terra: Promotes circular economy innovation

Una Terra invests in circular economy innovation across Europe and North America.

The fund is SFDR Article 9 certified, a B Corp, and a UN PRI signatory.

The VC has deep sectoral expertise, strategic approach, hands-on support, and robust partnership ecosystem spanning corporates, impact investors, accelerators, and influential thought leaders.

Una Terra has a strong partnership ecosystem. The VC works with Climate KIC, which provides local support, and engages with funds like the CDP VC Green Transition Fund and FPA2’s ReOcean Fund for investment opportunities.

Indeed, Dr. Kirsten Dunlop, CEO of Climate-KIC, says, “Una Terra’s success underscores critical progress in shifting early growth investing into systemic thinking and practice. This investment is not just about financial returns; it’s about building the resilient, innovative Europe we desperately need.”

The VC’s talent acquisition and development are handled by Dynamis Group, while the Impact Committee, including members from Cambridge CISL and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, offers guidance.

Additionally, nativa provides expertise in business redesign, and educational programs with universities, such as the Copenhagen Institute of Interaction Design (CIID), help portfolio companies focus on their impact.

Una Terra also promotes gender-lens investing, with a strong representation of female founders and leaders across its portfolio.

Through its “Stand Up for the Planet” book and campaign, the Swiss VC highlights the role of women in driving global sustainable innovation and recognises gender as an underutilised lever for long-term value creation.