In the United Kingdom, 2M Sustainable Packaging Technologies has secured an Innovate UK SMART grant to advance FlexSea’s red seaweed-based biomaterial for circular personal care industry packaging.
The unspecified grant will fund work by 2M and University of Warwick to use advanced engineering and plastic processing techniques to commercialize FlexSea’s seaweed biopolymer. The initiative also involves other members of the 2M Group, including Surfachem and Crafted.
FlexSea’s material is notable for its high nitrogen content, which is believed to enrich soil health during natural decomposition. Depending on the thickness, the home compostable material can biodegrade within weeks in both marine and terrestrial environments, according to Packaging Europe.