North Wales start-up, PlantSea, is combating oceanic plastic pollution with its range of seaweed-based packaging.

The company, established in 2020 is based at the Optic Technology Centre in St Asaph and uses seaweed washed up on the Western Welsh coast to create biodegradable materials.

These are then used to replace single-use plastics in various ways- from eco-friendly packaging to agricultural mulch film, stationary, boxes, and bags.

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PlantSea was created by three friends at Aberystwyth University.

Following their victory in a university competition, founders Dr Gianmarco Sanfratello, Dr Rhiannon Rees, and Dr Alex Newnes secured a £10,000 reward, allowing them to set up the company and further seek funding from the Welsh Government and Innovate UK.

Dr Sanfratello, originally from Sicily, revealed: "Since the start, our idea was to make packaging from seaweed, initially collected from the shore and then processed it – we used to do that in a kitchen - to make our products."

PlantSea products  (Image: Mandy Jones Photography)

Following numerous experimental pursuits, the team discovered that seaweed, a naturally abundant marine resource, could provide a valuable alternative to the plastic packaging commonly used for laundry detergents and shampoos.

The plastic pollution personal care packaging creates is a huge problem, with between eight and 10 million metric tons of plastic entering the oceans every year.

Recently, PlantSea has caught the attention of Ashley Rogers, chief executive of the North Wales Business Council.

Mr Rogers said: "Plastic pollution is one of the major environmental challenges we face, so it's really refreshing to see a North Wales business looking to grow while helping solve that problem.

Ashley Rogers said: “Plastic pollution is one of the major environmental challenges we face, so it’s really refreshing to see a North Wales business looking to grow while helping solve that problem.

“It’s ironic that we are looking for a solution to the pollution of the seas and this solution is found in the sea in the form of seaweed.

“PlantSea have started by addressing the problem of plastic pollution and in the process of starting up the business they’ve taken it from the cradle to the grave, from where do we source a supply of low carbon material through to how the end product is disposed of. The full product lifecycle.

“Clearly, they’ve looked at where the largest potential markets are and identified cosmetics packaging and washing machine tablets but also looked at how the byproducts of the manufacturing process can be used. Some really lateral thinking here on new product development in a Net Zero world.

“It’s also a fantastic example of partnership working involving Bangor and Wrexham Universities as well as the Welsh Government and Innovate UK.”

PlantSea is currently developing its water-soluble technology, however, its seaweed paper is available on the market.

The residual seaweed from creating the water-soluble film is used in the paper-making process.

The company envisions growing their business in North Wales, creating technology that could be exported and used worldwide.

Dr Sanfratello said: "We have developed a unique process to convert raw seaweed into usable materials in a rigid form and in a flexible water-soluble film specifically for packaging individual doses."

"Microplastic is one of the major issues we face as consumers, and we believe we have developed a product here in North Wales that could turn the tide on plastic pollution."