In New York, fashion designer Tom Ford has announced the finalists for the Ocean-Safe Alternatives Competition’s Plastic Innovation Prize.
The eight finalists include three companies—Kelpi, Sway and Zerocycle—converting seaweed into bioplastics or plastic alternatives, as well as Genecis, a startup specializing in reprogramming bacteria to create reusable materials; Marea, an Icelandic start-up converting algae into biodegradable thin-film alternatives; Notpla, a London-based company producing natural-membrane packaging; and Xampla, a University of Cambridge spinout producing high-performance plastic alternatives from common plant sources.
“What we accomplish together through this competition will catalyze global change across continents, countries and industries, which is urgently needed to address plastic pollution,” Ford said in a press statement. “If the ocean is polluted and in danger, then so is the planet and so are we. The impact these brilliant minds and their creations will have on our planet is monumental, bringing us their innovative solutions to making the environment a safer place for generations to come.”
Winners will be announced in 2023. The award is given in partnership with Dune Ives, CEO Lonely Whale, a non-profit dedicated to keeping plastics waste out of oceans. There were 64 applicants from 26 countries. The finalists now have a year for testing, which is sponsored by Nike.