LOLIWARE
LOLIWARE is a San Jose-based materials tech company that develops seaweed-derived resins and single-use serveware (straws, utensils) as drop-in replacements for petroleum-based plastics, selling directly to hospitality and education buyers and licensing its SEA Tech™ resins globally through Entec.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersSan Francisco, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What LOLIWARE does
LOLIWARE Inc. is a San Jose, California-based materials technology company developing seaweed-derived alternatives to single-use petroleum-based plastics. Its core technology platform, SEA Technology™ (Seaweed-derived, Emission-avoiding, Alternatives to plastic), centers on a proprietary blend of ocean-farmed seaweed, minerals, and natural colors that is processed into pellets compatible with existing plastic manufacturing equipment — including extrusion and injection molding. The company's product portfolio includes the Blue Carbon Straw (its flagship commercialized item, manufactured by Sinclair & Rush in the US and offered in standard, jumbo, boba, and cocktail sizes), SEA Tech™ Resins (licensed to consumer brands and manufacturers), and the Seaweed Utensil Set (forks, knives, spoons) launched in 2023. All products are certified 100% plastic-free by Oceanic Global's Blue Standard, certified 100% bio-based under ASTM D6866-21, and designed to decompose in a backyard compost in approximately 50 days under the company's "Hypercompostable™ / Designed to Disappear™" positioning.
LOLIWARE firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- LOLIWARE
- Legal name
- Loliware Inc.
- Website
- https://loliware.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- LOLIWARE is a San Jose-based materials tech company that develops seaweed-derived resins and single-use serveware (straws, utensils) as drop-in replacements for petroleum-based plastics, selling directly to hospitality and education buyers and licensing its SEA Tech™ resins globally through Entec.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
LOLIWARE industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Bio-based Sustainable Packaging Materials
- NAICS
- Plastics Material and Resin Manufacturing (325211), All Other Plastics Product Manufacturing (326199)
- SIC
- Plastic Materials, Synth Resins & Nonvulcan Elastomers (2821), Miscellaneous Plastics Products (3080)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Bio-based & Biodegradable Polymer Resin Manufacturing (PLA, PHA, PBS, PBAT) (IMANANAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Bio-based & Biodegradable Polymer Resin Manufacturing (PLA, PHA, PBS, starch blends) (IMANAAAG), Compostable & Bio-based Rigid Packaging (injection/blow/thermoform) (IMANANAD)
Keywords
Where LOLIWARE is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Francisco
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
LOLIWARE business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Product Sales — Seaweed Straws and Utensils: LOLIWARE sells seaweed-based drinking straws (Blue Carbon Straw in standard, jumbo, boba, and cocktail sizes) and seaweed utensil sets directly to businesses. Products are available for wholesale orders via the sales team ([email protected]). Straws are manufactured in the USA by Sinclair & Rush.
- SEA Tech™ Resin Licensing: LOLIWARE licenses its patented SEA Tech™ seaweed resins to consumer brands and manufacturers. Brands can incorporate the resins into their own products to meet ESG and plastic-free goals. This represents a B2B licensing/royalty model targeting converters, mills, and consumer goods companies.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Wholesale product orders (Blue Carbon Straw, Seaweed Utensils) |
| Other | Multi-year contract | SEA Tech™ Resin Licensing (for brands and manufacturers) |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
LOLIWARE product offering
Product offeringCore offering
LOLIWARE develops and commercializes seaweed-derived, bio-based resins (SEA Tech™) and sells finished single-use plastic replacement products — primarily the Blue Carbon Straw and Seaweed Utensil Set — to food service, hospitality, education, and convenience operators through direct B2B wholesale. The company also licenses its proprietary SEA Tech™ resin pellets to consumer brands, converters, and manufacturers seeking drop-in, home-compostable alternatives to petroleum-based plastics.
Product overview
LOLIWARE is a materials technology company offering seaweed-based alternatives to single-use plastics. The core product portfolio centers on SEA Tech™ Resins (patented seaweed-derived pellets) and the Blue Carbon Straw (the first commercialized application). Additional products include the SEA Pellet (base material) and the Seaweed Utensil Set (forks, knives, spoons). All products are Designed to Disappear™ through home composting, replacing petroleum-based plastics while capturing carbon through ocean-farmed seaweed.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- SEA Technology™: A new category of resins made from regenerative, carbon-capturing and ocean-farmed seaweed, designed to replace plastic at scale
- Blue Carbon Straw
- SEA Pellet
- Seaweed Utensil Set
Products and services
- Blue Carbon Straw Seaweed-based drinking straw that looks and performs like plastic but is home-compostable in approximately 50 days. Available in standard, jumbo, boba, and cocktail sizes. Sold wholesale to food service, hospitality, education, and event operators through direct B2B sales ([email protected]), manufactured by Sinclair & Rush in the US and distributed globally.
- SEA Pellet The foundational seaweed-derived pellet feedstock for LOLIWARE's SEA Technology platform. A proprietary blend of seaweeds, minerals, and natural colors that decomposes about as fast as a banana peel and is compatible with existing plastic processing equipment. Used as the input for the Blue Carbon Straw, the Seaweed Utensil Set, and licensed third-party products.
- SEA Tech™ Resins Seaweed-derived resin pellets engineered to replace petroleum-based plastic resins at scale, made from regenerative, carbon-capturing, ocean-farmed seaweed and compatible with existing plastic manufacturing equipment. Licensed to consumer brands, converters, and manufacturers via multi-year contracts and distributed globally through an exclusive partnership with Entec.
- Seaweed Utensil Set A set of seaweed-based eating utensils (forks, knives, spoons) manufactured using injection molding technology and the new SEA Tech™ resin for injection molding. Designed to replace single-use plastic utensils and compostable within approximately 50 days in backyard compost. Sold wholesale to enterprise and mid-market food service and hospitality operators.
Quantifiable outcome
- Seaweed captures 5-20x more carbon per acre than land-based forests
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use LOLIWARE
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
LOLIWARE technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability1 record
Feature5 records
LOLIWARE partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.
- José Andrés Group (JAG)coreLOLIWARE partnered with José Andrés Group to provide seaweed drinking straws at JAG restaurants across the globe. Straws made their Chicago debut at Bar Mar, Bazaar Meat by José Andrés, and Jaleo, expanding to DC and nationwide. JAG's R&D team collaborates with LOLIWARE to create one-of-a-kind serveware, combining Andrés' culinary innovation with LOLIWARE's sustainable materials.
- 1 Hotelsflagship1 Hotels, a hotel brand focused on sustainable options across all touchpoints (ingredients, textiles, etc.), replaced their PHA-based straws with LOLIWARE's home-compostable seaweed straws across all 16 properties in North America. The switch is driven by 1 Hotels' commitment to reducing environmental impact.
- Fordham UniversityminorFordham University replaced all straws on campus with LOLIWARE's home-compostable seaweed-based straws, driven by students who convinced the University's Office of Sustainability to adopt the plastic-free alternative. LOLIWARE participated in Fordham's 'Day of Kelp' to showcase the partnership.
- Fiddler's ElbowminorPartnership with Fiddler's Elbow (country club/event venue) to provide sustainable, plastic-free seaweed-based serveware solutions compatible with their business operations.
- Adept Food and BeveragecoreLOLIWARE's first international partnership. Adept FB (Ontario, Canada) distributes LOLIWARE seaweed straws and utensils across Canada, leveraging Canadian government's ban on single-use plastics. Adept serves convenience and quick-serve restaurant space with vegan and plant-based offerings, with distribution and sales assets across Canada and major channel relationships.
- Sinclair & RushcoreUS-based plastics manufacturer partnered with LOLIWARE to produce the Blue Carbon Straw at scale using existing plastic manufacturing equipment in their St. Louis facility. Sinclair & Rush had been approached by dozens of companies claiming compostable materials but found LOLIWARE's material and business model truly viable. Sinclair & Rush also committed capital as an investor in LOLIWARE's pre-Series A funding round.
- EnteccoreEntec is the exclusive distribution partner for LOLIWARE's SEA Tech™ resins. Described as the world's leading plastic resin distributor, Entec provides global distribution reach for LOLIWARE's seaweed-based resin products targeting manufacturers and converters.
- Dr. Carlos M. DuartecoreWorld-renowned marine scientist and Chief Scientific Officer of Oceans 2050. Described LOLIWARE's SEA Technology™ as 'the first seaweed-derived material to be created using entirely natural, ocean-friendly ingredients that's also suitable for large-scale production.' Advises LOLIWARE on seaweed materials science.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
LOLIWARE competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Evoware: Indonesia-based developer of seaweed-based edible and biodegradable packaging. Direct peer in seaweed-based single-use plastic replacement, focused on emerging-market and food-service applications.
- Notpla: UK-based direct competitor developing seaweed-based packaging (edible films, sachets, coatings) as alternatives to single-use plastic. Closest comparable to LOLIWARE in technology category, target market, and regulatory positioning, and has raised materially more capital with deeper UK QSR commercial traction.
- Zerocircle Alternatives: India-based company producing seaweed-based packaging as a replacement for single-use plastic films and containers. Direct peer to LOLIWARE in the seaweed packaging category with comparable end-use applications.
- Sway Innovation: California-based startup producing seaweed-based flexible packaging films as a plastic alternative. Direct peer to LOLIWARE in seaweed-derived bioplastic materials, targeting consumer brands and CPG applications.
Broad incumbents
- NatureWorks: Thailand/US-based global leader in PLA biopolymer manufacturing. Broad incumbent in bio-based plastics whose PLA resin competes with LOLIWARE's SEA Tech™ in compostable packaging applications, though it requires industrial composting.
- Danimer Scientific: US-based public company producing PHA-based bioplastics (Nodax®) for single-use and packaging applications. Broad incumbent in bio-based resins that competes for the same ESG-driven brand customers as LOLIWARE, and was the incumbent at 1 Hotels prior to switching to LOLIWARE.
Emerging players
- TIPA: Israel-based developer of compostable flexible packaging films. Emerging player in bio-based packaging with overlapping target customers (consumer brands, retailers) and overlapping value proposition (home/industrial compostable plastic replacement).
- Full Cycle Bioplastics: US-based company converting organic waste into PHA bioplastics. Emerging player in bio-based resins with overlapping addressable market; LOLIWARE's Director of Operations previously scaled food-waste-to-PHA technology at Full Cycle, indicating technology adjacency.
- Lactips: France-based company producing casein-based (milk protein) water-soluble and biodegradable plastics. Emerging player in bio-based plastic replacement with comparable B2B resin licensing model and target end-use applications in food-contact packaging.
- Cruz Foam: US-based startup producing chitosan-based (shellfish-derived) sustainable packaging foams. Emerging player in bio-based packaging materials targeting consumer goods and shipping applications, comparable in stage and sustainability narrative to LOLIWARE.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
LOLIWARE social profiles
Digital presenceLOLIWARE compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
LOLIWARE financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
LOLIWARE leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles15 records
LOLIWARE funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds8 records
Investors13 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
LOLIWARE M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about LOLIWARE
What does LOLIWARE do?
LOLIWARE develops and commercializes seaweed-derived, bio-based resins (SEA Tech™) and sells finished single-use plastic replacement products — primarily the Blue Carbon Straw and Seaweed Utensil Set — to food service, hospitality, education, and convenience operators through direct B2B wholesale. The company also licenses its proprietary SEA Tech™ resin pellets to consumer brands, converters, and manufacturers seeking drop-in, home-compostable alternatives to petroleum-based plastics.
Is LOLIWARE a public or private company?
LOLIWARE is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was LOLIWARE founded?
LOLIWARE was founded in 2016. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is LOLIWARE based?
LOLIWARE is headquartered in San Francisco, United States, in the North America region.
How does LOLIWARE make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Product Sales — Seaweed Straws and Utensils are the primary driver. The others are SEA Tech™ Resin Licensing.
Who are LOLIWARE's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Evoware, Notpla, Zerocircle Alternatives and Sway Innovation. Broad incumbents are NatureWorks and Danimer Scientific. Emerging players are TIPA, Full Cycle Bioplastics, Lactips and Cruz Foam.
Does LOLIWARE have an API?
No public API is recorded for LOLIWARE.
What industry is LOLIWARE in?
LOLIWARE's product category is Bio-based Sustainable Packaging Materials. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMANANAA, Bio-based & Biodegradable Polymer Resin Manufacturing (PLA, PHA, PBS, PBAT), with a secondary code of IMANAAAG, Bio-based & Biodegradable Polymer Resin Manufacturing (PLA, PHA, PBS, starch blends). Its NAICS code is 325211 and its SIC code is 2821.