Kelpi, the UK-based biomaterials innovation company who have developed a seaweed-derived, high-barrier coating for paper-based packaging, were crowned best Sustainability Start-Up at the Sustainable Food Awards in Amsterdam this month.
The awards, part of the European Sustainable Foods Summit, are judged and presented by a panel of senior sustainability leaders from global businesses who are shaping the future of food and packaging.
The award recognizes Kelpi’s work to replace conventional fossil fuel-based plastic multi-laminates with a bio-based coating that enables high-performance, paper-based flexible packaging across multiple categories including food, drink, and nutraceuticals.
Kelpi were declared the Gold winner after an assessment based on impact, innovation, scalability, and the strength of evidenced claims.
The recognition comes at a crucial year for Kelpi, as the company moves from lab development into commercialization, with a bio-based coating for paper sachet applications already demonstrating the ability to replace traditional plastic layers with a certified home recyclable and biodegradable alternative.
The winning of this award also coincides with Kelpi’s food contact approval in the United States, which is expected this year and will mark a key milestone unlocking new opportunities for food applications in one of the world’s largest packaging markets.
“By enabling businesses to transition away from multi-material plastic structures to paper-based alternatives, Kelpi is helping accelerate the shift towards lower-impact packaging at scale in order to help build a sustainable future,” the company says.
