The global seaweed-based packaging market is undergoing rapid growth, driven by mounting concerns over plastic pollution and increasing demand for biodegradable alternatives. Startups and innovation leaders such as Loliware, Notpla, and Karvon are at the forefront of this green revolution, transforming marine biomass into functional, scalable, and compostable packaging materials.

Traditionally seen as a niche alternative, seaweed packaging is now gaining momentum across industries ranging from food and beverages to personal care and e-commerce. According to recent market research, the sector is expected to achieve double-digit growth over the next decade, fueled by investments in material science, changes in consumer behavior, and supportive regulatory policies banning single-use plastics.

One of the most prominent players is Notpla, a UK-based company that develops packaging films, sachets, and takeaway containers from brown seaweed. Their award-winning products, including the edible Ooho pods, have been used in major events like the London Marathon and are now being piloted by food delivery platforms across Europe. Notpla’s mission is to make packaging disappear—literally—as their products naturally degrade in weeks without leaving harmful residues.

Loliware, based in the United States, takes a similar approach but with a focus on seaweed-derived biopolymers for flexible and rigid packaging. The company has partnered with major CPG brands to replace petroleum-based plastics in high-volume categories. Their materials are designed to compost in home environments, offering a practical solution for municipalities that lack industrial composting infrastructure.

“Seaweed is not only abundant and fast-growing, it also requires no fertilizers, land, or freshwater,” explains a representative from Loliware. “It’s an ideal feedstock for the packaging materials of the future.”

Emerging firm Karvon is also making strides, focusing on scalable production and custom formulations for seaweed-based films and coatings. With facilities close to coastal harvesting zones, Karvon is optimizing the supply chain from sea to shelf, reducing both environmental and logistical footprints.

From a sustainability perspective, seaweed packaging offers a compelling alternative to bioplastics made from corn or sugarcane, which often compete with food supply or involve heavy land use. Seaweed, on the other hand, can be cultivated in the ocean, where it contributes to carbon sequestration, supports marine biodiversity, and doesn’t require arable land.

Governments are beginning to recognize the potential of this material. In the EU and parts of Southeast Asia, incentives and pilot programs are emerging to support algae-based innovation. Likewise, brands are actively seeking packaging formats that align with their ESG goals, making seaweed packaging not just a sustainable option, but a market differentiator.

Challenges remain, particularly around scaling production, ensuring performance parity with plastics, and achieving regulatory harmonization. However, as investment pours into algae biotech and packaging R&D, seaweed is fast becoming more than a novelty—it’s a viable industrial solution.

As consumers become more conscious of their environmental impact, and as legislation limits the use of conventional plastics, companies like Loliware, Notpla, and Karvon are leading a sea change in packaging. What was once waste from the ocean is now shaping the future of sustainable materials.