{"id":10033,"date":"2025-10-29T08:52:18","date_gmt":"2025-10-29T12:52:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.packagingindustrynews.com\/?p=10033"},"modified":"2025-10-29T08:52:18","modified_gmt":"2025-10-29T12:52:18","slug":"terrasafe-names-julie-crowe-willoughby-as-ceo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.packagingindustrynews.com\/?p=10033","title":{"rendered":"TerraSafe names Julie Crowe Willoughby as CEO"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Willoughby\u202fis a chemical and biomolecular engineer and polymer scientist. Credit: Nikita Burdenkov\/Shutterstock.com.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Bio-based barrier packaging developerTerraSafe Holdings has named Julie Crowe Willoughby as its CEO.<\/p>\n

Willoughby joined TerraSafe in 2024 as chief technology officer.<\/p>\n

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In the new role, she will oversee scaling of the company\u2019s plastic-free packaging materials into international commercial markets.<\/p>\n

She will lead efforts to translate its technology into products that offer protection without relying on conventional plastics.<\/p>\n

A chemical and biomolecular engineer and polymer scientist, Willoughby brings more than 30 years\u2019 experience across chemicals, coatings, pulp and paper, packaging, textiles, life sciences and fashion.<\/p>\n

Her background includes roles in both industry and academia.<\/p>\n

She was previously chief scientific and commercialisation officer at Circ, where she worked on taking a textile-to-textile recycling technology from the laboratory stage to semi-commercial production.<\/p>\n

Her earlier positions included leading materials and manufacturing innovation at Nike, faculty appointment at North Carolina State University\u2019s Wilson College of Textiles, and senior research and development (R&D) roles at Dow Corning (now Dow Silicones) and MeadWestvaco (now Smurfit\u2011WestRock).<\/p>\n

TerraSafe highlights her expertise in surface chemistry, polymer physics, renewable feedstocks and advanced coatings.<\/p>\n

Since its founding in 2023 by Big Idea Ventures\u2019 Generation Food Rural Partners Fund (GFRP), TerraSafe has developed an R&D and manufacturing facility in Youngsville, North Carolina and built a patent portfolio of more than 10 families covering high-performance bio-based materials.<\/p>\n

The company has launched two commercial products based on its polysaccharide film technology, and has raised $13.3m to date, including a $2m Series A lead investment from GFRP.<\/p>\n

TerraSafe positions its technology as an alternative for brands and regulators seeking plastic-free packaging options, combining coatings, films, containers and surface treatments intended to provide barrier performance using what the company describes as \u201cgreen and clean chemistry\u201d.<\/p>\n

TerraSafe Board chair and chief investment officer at the Generation Food Rural Partners Fund Thomas Mastrobuoni stated: \u201cJulie has a unique combination of deep technical mastery, entrepreneurial vision and creative leadership that this industry needs.<\/p>\n

\u201cHer appointment marks an inflection point in TerraSafe\u2019s trajectory \u2014 and a decisive step toward making plastic pollution obsolete.\u201d<\/p>\n

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