Plastic air pollution stays a serious problem for client manufacturers, however many sustainable supplies wrestle to compete with conventional plastics on value and scale. That price barrier has slowed the shift towards extra environmentally pleasant packaging.
London-based biomaterials startup Shellworks says it has an answer. The corporate has raised $15 million in Sequence A funding to scale manufacturing of its plastic different: Vivomer, and increase into the US and Europe.
The spherical was led by Alter Equity, a Paris-based impression funding fund. Different traders embody Nat Friedman by way of NFDG, JamJar Investments, and present backers reminiscent of Founder Collective, LocalGlobe, and Third Sphere.
The UK firm plans to make use of the brand new funding to increase its world manufacturing community, together with new manufacturing capability in the US and Europe.
The corporate is specializing in applied sciences reminiscent of blow moulding to assist large-scale packaging manufacturing whereas lowering transportation emissions and strengthening provide chains.
Félix Mounier from alter fairness mentioned: “Shellworks represents precisely the form of innovation we have to see within the supplies economic system. They’re not simply creating a greater materials, they’re constructing the infrastructure to make it accessible at scale. That’s what’s going to drive actual change and contribute to the plastic-free economic system we’re supporting at alter fairness.”
A biodegradable different to plastic
Based in 2019, Shellworks develops supplies designed to interchange conventional plastics whereas sustaining related efficiency and price ranges.
Its expertise might help main manufacturers transition to sustainable packaging with out sacrificing value or product performance, a problem that has traditionally been one of many greatest for different supplies.
It has spent six years growing Vivomer, a bio-based materials created utilizing microbes that ferment second-generation feedstocks reminiscent of used cooking oil. The ensuing materials works like plastic throughout use however totally biodegrades after disposal, providing manufacturers a possible different to petroleum-based packaging.
The corporate says it has now reached price competitiveness with conventional supplies reminiscent of aluminium and glass, even whereas producing solely about 5 million models to date. This milestone addresses one of many greatest obstacles stopping firms from switching to sustainable packaging.
Shellworks CEO and co-founder Insiya Jafferjee mentioned: “For too lengthy, the dialog round sustainable supplies has been dominated by the notion that they’re too costly for mass adoption. We’re proving that’s now not true. At only a fraction of plastic’s scale, we’re already cost-competitive with alternate options like glass and aluminium. As we scale additional, we’ll solely get extra aggressive.”
Partnerships with manufacturers
The fabric is already being utilized by client manufacturers, together with Wild private care model, which is a part of the Unilever portfolio, and Sonsie Pores and skin, the skincare model based by Pamela Anderson.
Merchandise utilizing Vivomer packaging are presently offered in shops reminiscent of Tesco by way of Wild’s product line. Packaging utilizing the fabric has additionally launched at Complete Meals Market by way of the model Phil’s.
Freddy Ward, co-founder and CEO of Wild, mentioned: “Vivomer is on the forefront of sustainable materials innovation and has helped Wild ship on our mission. Their want to drive change and clear up issues has been wonderful to look at, and their ardour for a greater packaging future is infectious.”
