Shellworks, a biomaterials startup that has developed a sustainable plastic alternative, is preparing to expand into the US and Europe off the back of a $15m (£11.2m) Series A round.
The company’s flagship creation is Vivomer, a material developed over six years made by using microbes to ferment second generation feedstocks like used cooking oil.
Vivomer was created as a plastic replacement that is stable in use but biodegradable when disposed of.
As well as addressing the environmental concerns of mainstream materials, Shellworks said it is able to produce its material at the same cost of conventional materials like aluminium and glass.
“For too long, the conversation around sustainable materials has been dominated by the perception that they’re too expensive for mass adoption,” said Insiya Jafferjee, chief executive and co-founder of Shellworks.
“We’re proving that’s no longer true. At just a fraction of plastic’s scale, we’re already cost-competitive with alternatives like glass and aluminium. As we scale further, we’ll only get more competitive.”
Shellworks currently works with brands including Wild, part of Unilever.
The round was led by Parisian investor alter equity and included participation from JamJar, Founder Collective, LocalGlobe, Third Sphere and Nat Friedman.
“Shellworks represents exactly the kind of innovation we need to see in the materials economy” said Félix Mounier from alter equity.
“They’re not just creating a better material, they’re building the infrastructure to make it accessible at scale. That’s what will drive real change and contribute to the plastic-free economy we are supporting at alter equity.”
With the funding now secured, Shellworks is planning to expand into the US and the European Union.
