Overview
Kelpi is a British biotechnology company headquartered in Bath, United Kingdom, founded in 2020 by Neil Morris. The company is pioneering a new generation of bioplastics made entirely from seaweed, designed to replace single-use fossil fuel plastics while delivering superior performance and environmental benefits.
With Series A funding of $9.51M from 17 investors, Kelpi is scaling production of seaweed-based bioplastics that are compostable, marine-safe, and biodegradable while maintaining world-leading water barrier properties.
Core Technology: Seaweed-Based Bioplastics
Seaweed Feedstock:
- Rapidly renewable resource (no fertilizers, land, or fresh water required)
- Grows prolifically in coastal regions
- Absorbs CO₂ as it grows
- De-acidifies and re-oxygenates ocean environments
- Zero impact on food security or agricultural land use
Material Properties:
- Compostable and marine-safe bioplastics
- World-leading water barrier performance
- Superior alternative to fossil fuel plastics
- Performance-matched to conventional plastic coatings
- Suitable for high-barrier applications
Environmental Benefits:
- Carbon sequestering (algae absorbs CO₂ during growth)
- Ocean health improvement
- No plastic pollution
- Fully biodegradable
- Supports circular ocean economy
Product Portfolio
Seaweed-Based Bioplastic Coatings:
- Food packaging applications
- Moisture barrier for fresh goods
- Alternative to plastic films and coatings
- High-performance sustainable replacement
Applications:
- Single-use food packaging (films, coatings)
- Flexible and rigid packaging
- Cosmetics and personal care packaging
- Protective coatings for paper and cardboard
Market Focus
Target Industries:
- Food and beverage packaging
- Sustainable packaging manufacturers
- Cosmetics and personal care
- Retailers seeking sustainable packaging solutions
- Brand owners committed to plastic reduction
Customer Value:
- Premium bioplastic alternative to conventional plastics
- Certified compostability and marine safety
- Superior barrier properties
- Circular economy alignment
- Ocean health contribution
Strategic Recognition & Partnerships
L’Oréal L’Accelerator Program:
- Selected as one of 13 change makers
- EUR 100 million sustainable innovation program
- Recognition of sustainable innovation potential
EIT Rising Food Stars 2025:
- Selected for prestigious sustainability cohort
- Demonstrates food industry relevance
Industry Recognition:
- Leading seaweed bioplastics innovator
- Pioneer in marine-safe packaging
- High barrier performance demonstration
Competitive Advantages
Technology:
- Seaweed feedstock (non-food, rapidly renewable)
- World-leading water barrier properties
- Marine and industrial compostability
- Performance parity with conventional plastics
Sustainability:
- Carbon-negative production (seaweed growth sequesters CO₂)
- Ocean health benefits
- Circular economy model
- Zero agricultural impact
Market Timing:
- Growing corporate demand for marine-safe plastics
- Regulatory pressure on single-use plastics
- Brand commitment to ocean sustainability
- Food packaging industry transformation
Funding & Growth
Current Funding:
- Series A: $9.51M raised
- 17 investors backing the company
- Capital for scaling production and commercialization
Growth Stage:
- Early commercialization phase
- Scaling production capacity
- Building supply chain partnerships
- Expanding market reach
Sustainability Mission
Kelpi’s mission:
- Replace fossil fuel plastics with sustainable alternatives
- Protect ocean health through seaweed cultivation
- Deliver performance equivalent to conventional plastics
- Enable circular economy through compostable materials
- Scale sustainable packaging globally
Last updated: February 27, 2026