Turning the Tide: Seaweed’s Role in Transforming the World to be Plastic Free
What do you think of when you think of seaweed? Do you think of a slimy plant that you come across when swimming, or of a sushi ingredient? Well, what if you heard that seaweed could be the unexpected hero our planet desperately needs? It might sound surprising, but scientists are now heralding seaweed as our world’s ultimate renewable resource.
Seaweed, globally abundant year-round, thrives with rapid growth, ensuring a constant and renewable supply. Sadly, only 3-5% is currently utilised, despite its bountiful, sustainable potential. Loaded with nutrients and anti-inflammatory properties, it offers vast untapped opportunities across various industries, awaiting more companies to harness its benefits.
Introducing an Indonesian company Evoware, a company who are revolutionising the packaging industry through seaweed. Indonesia, an archipelagic nation spanning 17,000 islands, holds the distinction of being the world’s second-largest seaweed producer after China. Seaweed is abundantly available in Indonesia, and currently less than 5% of discovered species are being utilised.
Founded in 2020, Evoware is a sustainability focused company, with a team passionate about sustainability who are united by their vision to see a world without plastic pollution. They created the #Rethink plastic movement in order to prevent further environmental damage from single use plastics, and to empower individuals and businesses to make the switch to eco-friendly alternatives made from sustainable materials.
From their innovative products such as edible cups and rice straws, their latest innovation is the seaweed-based bio plastic pellet, which is revolutionising the way sustainable packaging is manufactured through a sustainable circular solution!
But firstly, what is a pellet? A plastic pellet is a foundational component for virtually all plastic products. To manufacture shopping bags, or other commercial packaging, numerous tiny plastic pellets undergo a process of intense heat and pressure, melting the material to be later cut, moulded into bags, and imprinted. Unfortunately, they are extremely harmful for the environment, serving as a significant source of microplastic pollution in our oceans.
Therefore, with these seaweed-based bioplastic pellets, Evoware is aiming to provide more environmentally friendly alternative to both currently existing plastic pellets: land-based bioplastic resins and conventional fossil-based plastic resins. The good news is, Evoware is not only focusing on sustainability of the end product, but also aiming to have a larger impact by also targeting the manufacturing process.
Evoware’s seaweed-based bioplastic pellets bring both flexibility and scalability to the table without the need for major technical modifications in the manufacturing process. This seamless integration into existing plastic machinery is poised to revolutionise the packaging industry, fostering responsible consumption throughout the supply chain.
Imagine the substantial transformation within the packaging industry if current plastic manufacturers seamlessly transition to seaweed-based pellets for bioplastic production, all without the need to replace their existing machinery. The future of sustainable packaging is within reach, offering an eco-friendlier and more efficient path forward.
In their pursuit of a plastic-free world, Evoware’s provision of seaweed-based bioplastic pellet alternatives to manufacturers globally embodies their unwavering commitment to innovation, sustainability and collaboration.
To learn more about Evoware
Website: https://rethink-plastic.com/home/
Instagram: @evowareworld