Shellworks

Shellworks is a design-led biotechnology company creating sustainable packaging alternatives to petroleum-based plastics. The company was founded in 2019 by Insiya Jafferjee, Amir Afshar, and Ed Jones, who met while pursuing a joint Master's Degree in Innovation Design Engineering at the Royal College of Art and Imperial College London. Their shared interest in solving the plastic pollution crisis, combined with their respective backgrounds in manufacturing, design, and materials science, led to the creation of the company.

Initially, Shellworks developed a material called Shellmer from chitosan, a biopolymer extracted from waste crustacean shells. However, based on industry feedback seeking vegan solutions, the company pivoted in early 2020. Their primary material is now Vivomer, a vegan, bio-based, and home-compostable polymer known as polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA). Vivomer is produced through a fermentation process where microbes feed on renewable resources, like plant sugars, and create a plastic-like material within their cells. This material is designed to be stable during its use phase but will fully biodegrade in about a year in a home or industrial compost environment, leaving no microplastics or toxins behind.

The company's business model is focused on providing these packaging solutions directly to businesses, initially targeting the beauty and personal care industry, which generates over 120 billion units of plastic packaging annually. Shellworks has developed products such as compostable pipette droppers and containers for creams, working with brands like Bybi, Liha, Sana Jardin, and Haeckels. By offering a material that doesn't compromise on performance or aesthetics, Shellworks aims to help brands transition away from single-use plastics.

Shellworks has raised approximately $7.14 million in funding over three rounds. Its most significant was a $6.2 million seed round in May 2022, led by LocalGlobe with participation from investors like Founder Collective, True Global, and BoxGroup. This capital is being used to scale its technology, expand its team, and grow its commercial operations to meet the increasing demand for sustainable packaging.

Keywords: sustainable packaging, bioplastics, compostable materials, Vivomer, biotechnology, PHA, plastic alternatives, beauty industry packaging, circular economy, microbial fermentation, eco-friendly materials, petroleum-free, material science, green technology, zero-waste packaging, sustainable design, bio-based polymers, advanced materials, cleantech, impact startup