Biodegradable Seaweed-based Packaging

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