The global algae-based film market was valued at around USD 165 million in 2025 and is projected to grow from USD 186.29 million in 2026 to nearly USD 555 million by 2035. The market is expected to expand at a CAGR of 12.90% from 2025 to 2035. Growing consumer demand for eco-friendly products, the need for materials with a lower resource footprint, and stricter government regulations are driving market growth. Leading companies in the market include Sway, Kelpi, Notpla, FlexSea, and Evoware.
Recent Developments
- In February 2024, Sway raised $5 million in seed funding. The company manufactures Thermoplastic Seaweed resin. Players like The Alante Capital, Superorganism, Helm, and BAM Ventures participated in the round, but the leading investor is Third Nature Investment. The new resin is a replacement for flexible plastics at an industrial scale.
- In February 2025, Uluu secured US$10.4 million in funding to expand seaweed-based bioplastics. The company provides seaweed-based bioplastics for applications like cosmetics, automotive, packaging, and fashion. The funding round is led by BPI and focuses on cutting global CO2 emissions.
- In January 2026, Zerocirce raised Rs. 5 crore for enhancing seaweed packaging production research & development. The investment was raised in a pre-series A funding round and focuses on deep-tech research. The co-leaders of the round are Rainmatter Capital and 3one4. The investment focuses on scaling the production of sustainable materials.
Key Companies
- Notpla Ltd.:- The United Kingdom-based company offers plant-based & seaweed-based packaging materials like edible packaging, films, and coatings.
- Sway (Sway Innovation Co.):- The company's headquarters are located in Oakland, California, United States. They offer compostable flexible film packaging and thermoplastic seaweed resin.
- Loliware Inc.:- The United States-located company offers seaweed resin as an alternative for plastic products and also offers compostable utensil sets, SEA Technology Resins, & blue carbon straws.
- ULUU:- The Australia-based company manufactures marine-microbe, seaweed-, and seawater-derived PHA biopolymers.
- Zerocircle:- The India-based company manufactures PFAS-free grease-resistant coatings, tree-free papers, binders, sustainable thin films, and bio-glues.
- Kelpi:- The United Kingdom-located player offers seaweed-based films and biopolymer coatings for packaging.
- Marea:- The Iceland-based company manufactures seaweed biopolymers and THARAPLAST films to replace conventional plastics.
- FlexSea:- The London-based company offers seaweed-derived bioplastic materials for applications like cardboard windows, textile packaging, food packaging, and personal care.
- PlantSea Ltd.:- The UK-based company manufactures products like soluble sachets, seaweed-infused labels, PlantSea pods, agricultural mulch films, soluble films, and paper goods.
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