Home Biodegradable Seaweed-based Packaging

Startup Spotlight 

Kelpi: Biodegradable seaweed-based packaging 

Location: UK 

 

Total Funding: £8.3M 

Last Funding Round: Seed round | £8.3M | 05/2024 

Key Investors: Blackfinch Ventures | Green Angel Ventures | Innovate UK 

 

What are they working on?

Kelpi is replacing plastic packaging with bioplastics derived from seaweed. The kelp-based bioplastic is versatile, used in applications like poly bags for food, fashion, hot food trays, and thin-film solutions. The seaweed-based packaging is biodegradable and decomposes harmlessly when it reaches landfills or water bodies.

Why are they disruptive?

  • Kelp-based bioplastics offer advanced features (e.g., oxygen barrier, desiccant properties), making them more effective than traditional fossil fuel-based plastics
  • Seaweed being a renewable and abundant resource, acts as a sustainable, environmentally friendly alternative to single-use plastics, while reducing reliance on petroleum-based materials and supporting a circular economy
  • Kelpi won Barclays Entrepreneur of the Year 2024 Awards – Start-up Category, validating its impact in sustainable innovations

What should we watch for?

  • Strategic partnerships: Kelpi has secured a contract with Blue Skies and Waitrose to replace plastic with seaweed-based alternatives for fresh fruit packaging
  • Corporate sustainability: L’Oréal has partnered with Kelpi for sustainable packaging, advancing its 2030 sustainability commitments
Q

Need a thought partner?

Share your focus area or question to engage with our Analysts through the Business Objectives service.

Submit My Business Objective

Our Clients

Our long-standing clients include some of the worlds leading brands and forward-thinking corporations.