The only bio-based biodegradable drop-in replacement biopolymer for PVA in large-scale FMCG packaging applicationsbroad
PlantSea · Horizon Europe grant · 2026-05-01–2028-04-30
EC contribution
Total cost
Beneficiaries
About the data
Source: CORDIS (official EU open data), Horizon Europe. Framework HORIZON · call HORIZON-EIC-2025-ACCELERATOR-02 · scheme HORIZON-EIC-ACC · topic HORIZON-EIC-2025-ACCELERATOR-02-OPEN-01. CORDIS record →
Objective
Plastic pollution has reached crisis levels, with an estimated 11M tonnes entering the oceans annually. This persistent waste poses a significant threat to marine ecosystems, biodiversity, and human health, as plastics can take up to 1,000 years to degrade and accumulate as microplastics. Microplastics are now found in human blood, food, water, and air, with 83% of global water sources contaminated, and individuals consuming up to 211,000 particles through food, water, and air each year.PlantSea offers a sustainable alternative to prevent further waste generation. Using a breakthrough seaweed biorefining technology, we have developed a flexible, water-soluble bio-based film manufactured from sustainably sourced seaweed. Unlike petroleum-based plastics, seaweed requires no arable land, fresh water, or fertilisers, and provides critical environmental benefits like carbon sequestration, ocean deacidification, and support for marine biodiversity. At the end of its life cycle, our film biodegrades naturally and is fully compostable.Our technology can achieve price parity with high-end polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) films and is designed for scale-up on existing manufacturing equipment and systems. Our film combines functional performance—biodegradability, heat-sealability, vacuum formability, 12+ months shelf life, and liquid containment (including liquid laundry detergents with harsh chemicals)—with market readiness. It directly replaces PVA in laundry and dishwasher capsules, a water-soluble plastic currently contributing to microplastic pollution. Broader applications of our bio-based film include packaging, cosmetics, and cleaning products.Our innovation aligns with the European Green Deal and the Single-Use Plastics Directive, supporting EU objectives to reduce plastic waste, curb marine pollution, and achieve climate neutrality by 2050. Our technology provides a scalable, high-impact solution to microplastics—one of the most pressing environmental challenges today.
Beneficiaries (1)
| Organisation | Country | Role | EC contribution | SME |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PlantSea Ltd | UK | coordinator | €2,499,569 | Yes |
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