U.S. company Loliware has debuted a seaweed-based plastic that is processable on conventional injection molding machinery at the 2023 Rethinking Materials Innovation and Investment Summit in London. This new biomaterial will power the company's first-ever Seaweed Utensil Set.
"We're thrilled to launch our second regenerative, compostable resin," said Loliware founder and CEO Sea F. Briganti. "It unlocks hundreds, if not thousands, of new products to replace single-use plastics at scale using the industry's existing equipment."
These new products will easily fill a market gap created by the United Kingdom's recent ban on single-use utensils, in addition to the ban on single-use plastics under the EU Plastics Directive. These new utensils represent Loliware's formal launch into the European and U.K. markets, meaning their products will be widely available for businesses to purchase or license.
At the event, Loliware also introduced its newest advisory board member Jeff Wooster, the former Global Sustainability Director at Dow Packaging and Specialty Plastics, and offered demonstrations of the new products. Company officials also met with potential distribution partners for the company's new line of Seaweed Utensil Sets, as well as its popular Seaweed Straws in all sizes – standard, jumbo, boba and cocktail.
"Creating a seaweed resin that was compatible with injection molding machinery proved to be a challenging task, as seaweed has unique properties and stringent performance requirements had to be met for the resulting parts," said Loliware Chief Technology Officer Dr. Victoria Piunova in her address this morning at the materials industry's premier annual event. "Loliware's utensils function similarly to their plastic counterparts but, by composting naturally, are literally 'Designed to Disappear®.'"