What Sway does

Sway Innovation Co. is a Bay Area-based materials science company founded in 2020 by Julia Marsh (CEO) and Matt Mayes (COO) that develops seaweed-based, home- and industrial-compostable bioplastics designed to replace single-use plastic packaging. Its core technology is TPSea™ (Thermoplastic Seaweed Pellets), a patented, certified 100% biobased biopolymer pellet that, despite seaweed's natural tendency to burn when heated, can be melted and processed through standard plastic manufacturing infrastructure. TPSea™ underpins two flexible-film sub-products — TPSea Flex™ (a majority-biobased film blended with certified home-compostable polymers) and Firstwave™ (a 100% biobased, fully transparent film made via a liquid-based process) — which in turn are converted into finished goods including Sway Polybags, Die Cut Handle Retail Bags, and Seaweed Windows. Sway does not own conversion or manufacturing assets at scale; it operates an "ingredient brand" model in which pellets and films are sold to a network of packaging distributors and converters (EcoEnclose, A New Earth Project, Atlantic Packaging, and Charter Next Generation) that handle compounding, extrusion, customization, and fulfillment before resale to end brands.

Sway's customer base is led by apparel and fashion brands — including the Sway Innovation Coalition of prAna, Faherty, Florence, Alex Crane, J.Crew, Vivobarefoot, Noah, Thistle, and Ales Grey — and has expanded laterally into food/confectionery (TCHO), personal care (Dr. Bronner's, Ocean and San), sports and outdoor (Burton, Florence Marine X), and stationery (Graf Lantz). Revenue flows through three primary channels: (1) material sales via distributors (TPSea Flex™ and Firstwave™ films and TPSea™ pellets), (2) custom material co-development captured via a Typeform inquiry form on the products page, and (3) a 1% for the Planet member commitment that directs 1% of sales to environmental nonprofits (with the Biodegradable Products Institute designated as a partner in 2026). Pricing is not publicly disclosed; sales are quote-based, with pay-as-you-go unit pricing on stock SKUs and bespoke contracts for custom formats. The company has raised approximately $8.1M in equity (notably a $5M round in December 2023 led by Third Nature Ventures) plus a $1.5M U.S. Department of Energy grant jointly with Umaro, and employs ~11 people, with a team weighted toward materials engineering, R&D, and supply.

Name

Sway

Legal name

Sway Innovation Co.

Website

https://swaythefuture.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Sway is a Bay Area materials science company (founded 2020) that makes patented, seaweed-based compostable biopolymer pellets and films (TPSea™, TPSea Flex™, Firstwave™) sold through packaging distributors to fashion, food, beauty, and outdoor brands as a drop-in replacement for single-use plastic.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Oakland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Material Sales via Distributors: Sway sells its seaweed-based pellet (TPSea™) and film (TPSea Flex™, Firstwave™) formulations to a network of packaging distributors (EcoEnclose, A New Earth Project, Atlantic Packaging) who convert the materials into finished packaging products (polybags, die-cut handle retail bags) and sell to brands across industries. This is Sway's primary revenue stream as an ingredient brand.
2. Custom Material Co-Development: Sway offers custom material formats via an Inquiry Form for brands seeking bespoke packaging solutions, indicating a custom-formula/pilot revenue stream for enterprise brand collaborations.
3. 1% for the Planet Commitment: Sway has been a certified 1% for the Planet Business Member since 2020, donating 1% of annual sales to environmental nonprofits (including BPI as a designated partner in 2026), representing a margin contribution rather than a primary revenue line.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Sway is a material innovation company that develops and sells seaweed-based compostable biopolymer materials. Its core offering is TPSea™, a patented category of thermoplastic seaweed pellets certified 100% biobased that can be processed through standard plastic manufacturing equipment, plus two flexible films (TPSea Flex™ and Firstwave™) used to produce finished packaging products such as Sway Polybags and Die Cut Handle Bags. Sway operates as an ingredient brand, selling materials to packaging distributors and brands across apparel, beauty, food, and outdoor categories.

Product overview

Sway is a California-based materials science company offering a unified seaweed-based biopolymer platform centered on TPSea™ — its patented, certified 100% biobased thermoplastic seaweed pellet technology developed in its San Francisco Bay Area lab. The TPSea™ core technology flows through traditional plastic manufacturing and underpins two flexible-film sub-products (TPSea Flex™ Film and Firstwave™ Film), which in turn are converted into finished packaging products including Sway Polybags (shipping), Die Cut Handle Bags (retail), and Seaweed Windows (window packaging). Sway also offers Custom Formats (material co-development) and distributes its innovations through a network of packaging partners including EcoEnclose, A New Earth Project, and Atlantic Packaging, supporting brands across fashion, beauty, cosmetics, sports, and outdoor industries. The portfolio is anchored by the tagline "From Sea to Soil," reflecting Sway's circular economy design philosophy of regenerating natural systems through compostable, seaweed-based replacements for hard-to-recycle single-use plastics.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• TPSea™: Thermoplastic Seaweed Pellets — Sway's patented, certified 100% biobased biopolymer pellet designed to replace petroleum-based plastics.
• TPSea Flex™
• Firstwave™
• Sway Polybags
• Seaweed Windows

Products and services

• TPSea™ Thermoplastic Seaweed Pellets Patented, certified 100% biobased biopolymer resin pellet made primarily from seaweed, designed to flow through traditional plastic manufacturing infrastructure and be transformed into flexible films, rigids, and beyond. Sold to packaging converters and distributors and available for pilot programs.
• TPSea Flex™ Film
• Firstwave™ Film
• Sway Polybags TPSea Flex™-based compostable shipping bags made from seaweed, plants, and home compostable polymers. Durable, translucent, with a luxurious look and feel, available through EcoEnclose, A New Earth Project, and Atlantic Packaging for e-commerce and apparel fulfillment.
• Sway Die Cut Handle Retail Bags Compostable retail bags made from TPSea Flex™. Durable, lightweight, weather-proof, and customizable for boutiques, department stores, markets, events, and restaurants. Available in stock and custom designs via EcoEnclose distribution.
• Custom Formats (Material Co-Development) Bespoke material co-development service inviting brands to inquire about custom seaweed-based material solutions beyond the standard product catalog, with inquiries captured via a Typeform form.

Quantifiable outcome

• 75,000 Sway bags absorb an estimated 1,350 lbs of carbon, remove 142.5 lbs of excess nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus), and remediate 4.2 acres of habitat through associated seaweed farming.
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 May 2026BPI designated by Sway as a 1% for the Planet partner (announced May 2026), receiving 1% of Sway's annual sales. Sway and BPI will collaborate to obtain home compostability certification for Sway's packaging in North America, and engage lawmakers, waste haulers, and industry participants to expand certified compostable packaging use across the US.
• EcoEncloseflagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEcoEnclose is a primary packaging distributor that converts Sway's TPSea Flex™ materials into finished Polybags and Die Cut Handle Bags, handles customization, logistics, and fulfillment, and was the key distributor enabling the Sway Innovation Coalition pilot. Plays a central role in Sway's go-to-market.
• A New Earth ProjectcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistribution partner selling Sway Polybags (including custom designs) to brands.
• Atlantic PackagingcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPackaging distributor that handles conversion and distribution of Sway materials to brands. Also runs New Earth Ventures, an investment arm that has built relationships with Sway (alongside Specright and Forest).
• Charter Next Generation (CNG)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerLegacy plastic manufacturer partnering with Sway to advance seaweed-based biomaterials. Showcased the partnership at PackExpo to highlight Sway's use of regenerative materials in guiding the industry toward biobased packaging solutions.
• UmarocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSeaweed innovators Sway and Umaro joined forces to optimize alginate for sustainable bioplastics, jointly awarded $1.5M from the U.S. Department of Energy.
• SOS CarbonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSway is exploring the use of sargassum (invasive brown seaweed) as a feedstock with partners like SOS Carbon, who operate in Mexico, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic.
• Lonely WhalecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLonely Whale collaboration produced the viral 'Seaweed Stories' documentary (narrated by Forest Whitaker), now streaming on Leonardo DiCaprio's YouTube channel and Alaska Air / Hawaiian Airlines flights. Sway's Bay Area material-science team is featured in the film.
• sea.treesminorOtherssea.trees is referenced as a Sway impact partner supporting the Nazaré Regenerative Seaweed Farm (NRSF) initiative, alongside Patagonia, WSL One Ocean, UN Ocean Decade, and Hope Zones Foundation.
• Cold Creek CompostminorOthersCold Creek Compost is a field-composting partner that helps Sway validate end-of-life decomposition performance of its materials.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Notpla: London-based seaweed packaging company producing flexible films, sachets, and takeaway containers from seaweed. Most direct competitor in seaweed-based flexible packaging, pursuing the same fashion and food-service brands and the same home-compostable value proposition.
• Loliware: U.S.-based seaweed-based biopolymer company producing straws, cups, and cutlery. Competes in seaweed-derived flexible and rigid packaging formats targeting foodservice and consumer brands, with comparable drop-in compostable positioning.
• Umaro: Seaweed-to-protein/bioplastic company and Sway's joint DOE grant recipient. Competes directly in seaweed-derived bioplastics with overlapping R&D and U.S. Department of Energy relationships.
• Tipa: Israel-based developer of compostable flexible packaging films for food and apparel. Competes in certified home- and industrial-compostable films with comparable TUV-style certifications and similar brand customers in fashion and CPG.

Emerging players

• Cruz Foam: Santa Cruz-based company producing chitosan (crustacean-shell-derived) foam packaging as a plastic replacement. Adjacent biobased protective packaging for shipping and consumer goods, targeting overlapping sustainability-driven CPG brands.
• Shellworks: U.K. startup producing compostable packaging from shellfish waste. Comparable biobased, compostable positioning for premium beauty and personal-care brands, though feedstock differs.

Broad incumbents

• NatureWorks: Global PLA bioplastic incumbent supplying packaging, foodservice, and consumer goods. Represents the established biobased alternative that Sway's seaweed story must displace in brand procurement decisions.
• Charter Next Generation: Major legacy specialty film manufacturer and Sway's flagship co-development/converter partner. Relevant as both distribution channel and competitive benchmark for scale manufacturing of biobased films.
• EcoEnclose: Sustainable packaging distributor and Sway's primary converter partner for Sway Polybags and Die Cut Handle Bags. Comparable as a sustainable packaging go-to-market that could expand private-label or partner-brand alternatives.
• Atlantic Packaging: Packaging distributor and converter running the New Earth Ventures investment arm (which includes Sway as a portfolio relationship). Comparable as a packaging-distribution platform with both customer overlap and an investment vehicle that could finance competing materials.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=zpHzvE_HLGY
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/swaythefuture
• Instagraminstagram.com/swaythefuture
• Xx.com/swaythefuture
• Facebookfacebook.com/swaythefuture

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds4 records

Investors14 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sway