Southsea start-up Squidmoo smashes crowdfunding target in a bid to make Portsmouth plastic free

When he returned home, he set about creating Southsea start-up Squidmoo, with his fiancee Alex Cuppleditch.

The pair make stainless steel, twin-lined bamboo lid bottles which you can leave in the sun for hours.

Thomas, 39, said: ‘The journey didn't end there, every encounter we had with items that we thought were awesome but needed a small tweak became part of our range.

‘Ultimately they are all products that we used or needed to become plastic conscious.’

Now the business, which started in January, produces items such as lunch containers, yoga mats, knives and sunglasses, as well as providing businesses and organisations with plastic free consultations and workshops.

It has launched a crowdfunder, in a bid to raise £25,000 and help make Portsmouth plastic free by providing reusable items to combat one use plastics.

Thomas, who used to be a gas engineer before starting Squidmoo, said: ‘I got a point where I wanted to do something to give back and do things for my daughters and make the world a better place for them.

‘We started in January and it has just exploded from there – it has gone from selling products online to a huge collaborative effort to make Portsmouth plastic free. It has been amazing.’

The crowdfunder has already smashed its initial target of £15,000 and is now well on its way to its new £25,000 target.

Thomas said: ‘I am amazed, humbled and shocked at the support. I’m flabbergasted.’

It has even received backing from Portsmouth South MP Stephen Morgan.

Mr Morgan said: ‘The work that both Thomas and Alex are doing is simply fantastic. What they and Squidmoo are doing is an important reminder that whilst we are facing a new global challenge, it does not mean the others have simply disappeared.

‘It is why I’m more than happy to back their campaign to reduce the use of single use plastic to zero in the UK by 2030, and their crowdfund to help achieve this here in our great city of Portsmouth.’

According to a government report, in the UK it is estimated that five million tonnes of plastic is used every year, nearly half of which is packaging.

The government had planned to bring in a ban on single use plastic earlier this April, including single-use plastic and plastic straws, drink stirrers and cotton buds, but has now delayed the ban until October due to the pandemic.

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There are an array of ways you can support the crowdfunder, such as £10 raffle entries to win a yoga mat up to a £200 Squidmoo Super Zen hamper that includes a yoga mat, knife, water bottle, sunglasses and two toothbrushes.

It has also attracted a £4,230 pledge from Crowdfund Portsmouth, a fund from Portsmouth City Council and Shaping Portsmouth that supports organisations, businesses, social enterprises and individuals tackling the impact of Covid-19, as well as NatWest Back Her Business, which has provided £5,000.

For more go to crowdfunder.co.uk/squidmoo#start

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