ULUU
ULUU is an Australian biomaterials company producing seaweed-based polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) pellets as a biodegradable, marine-safe alternative to fossil-fuel plastics for cosmetics, fashion, automotive, and textile manufacturers globally.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2021
- HeadquartersPerth, Australia
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What ULUU does
ULUU is an Australian biomaterials company producing polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) biopolymers from farmed seaweed as a drop-in alternative to fossil-fuel plastics. Founded in 2021 in Perth, Western Australia, by Dr Julia Reisser (PhD ocean plastics researcher, early member of The Ocean Cleanup) and Michael Kingsbury (former M&A lawyer), the company has developed a proprietary process combining enzymatic seaweed hydrolysis, saltwater microbial fermentation, and a freshwater cell-burst extraction method that eliminates toxic solvents. Its product portfolio centers on injection moulding-grade PHA pellets for rigid applications (packaging, consumer electronics, furniture, automotive interiors), fibre-grade pellets for textile production via melt spinning, and a high-protein by-product (Uluu Vegan Protein) from residual seaweed biomass commercialized as an aquaculture feed alternative. All Uluu materials are certified as home-compostable and marine-biodegradable by TÜV Austria and are designed to integrate directly with existing plastic manufacturing equipment.
ULUU sells PHA pellets on a quote-based B2B model to brand and manufacturing partners across cosmetics, fashion, and automotive industries globally. Its go-to-market leverages earned media (TechCrunch, Forbes, Nature, The Australian), industry awards (WEF Technology Pioneer 2026, SXSW 2025, WA Emerging Innovator 2024, KPMG Nature Positive 2022), and high-visibility brand co-development campaigns. Public commercial collaborations include Quiksilver boardshorts featuring 'Made with Uluu' wax combs (2024), Papinelle sleepwear with the world's first seaweed buttons (2025), Good Citizens seaweed sunglasses (2026), and an Audi feature showcasing automotive applications. The company co-locates R&D with the University of Western Australia's Ocean Institute at the Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre, collaborates with CSIRO, Deakin University, University of Queensland, and DPIRD, and sources seaweed through SeaSae, its joint venture with Indonesian farming cooperatives that taps the world's second-largest red seaweed producer.
As of late 2025, ULUU operates a 100 kg/year pilot facility in Perth and is scaling to a 10-tonne/year demonstration plant funded by an AU$16M Series A led by Burda Principal Investments, complemented by AU$1.5M Carbon Innovation Grant (WA Government), AU$2.1M Australian Government Industry Growth Program funding, and AU$200K from the WA Government. With approximately 30 employees organized across co-CEOs, a Chief Science Officer, Chief Operating Officer, and functional department heads, ULUU has positioned itself as a first-to-market seaweed-PHA supplier targeting plastics displacement across multiple consumer goods verticals at a time when ESG-driven procurement and regulatory pressure on single-use plastics are accelerating demand for marine-safe, climate-positive alternatives.
ULUU firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- ULUU
- Legal name
- Uluu
- Website
- https://uluu.com.au
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2021
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- ULUU is an Australian biomaterials company producing seaweed-based polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) pellets as a biodegradable, marine-safe alternative to fossil-fuel plastics for cosmetics, fashion, automotive, and textile manufacturers globally.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
ULUU industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Bioplastics and Biomaterials
- NAICS
- Plastics Material and Resin Manufacturing (325211), Resin and Synthetic Rubber Manufacturing (32521)
- SIC
- Industrial Organic Chemicals (2860), Miscellaneous Plastics Products (3080)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Bio-based & Biodegradable Polymer Resin Manufacturing (PLA, PHA, PBS, starch blends) (IMANAAAG)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Biodegradable Polymers & Resins (PLA, PHA, PBS, PBAT) (IMAEAOAA)
Keywords
Where ULUU is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Perth
- HQ country
- Australia
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices3 records
Markets served
ULUU business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- PHA Biopolymer Materials Sales: Selling seaweed-based PHA pellets as plastic alternatives to manufacturers. Products include injection moulding-grade pellets for rigid products and fiber-grade pellets for textiles. Revenue from material sales to brand and manufacturing partners.
- Vegan Protein By-Product: After producing Uluu materials, seaweed biomass with higher protein content (50% protein) is sold as an alternative to fishmeal in aquaculture feed. Additional potential revenue from soil treatment, pet food, and human protein.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
ULUU product offering
Product offeringCore offering
ULUU manufactures polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) biopolymer pellets from farmed seaweed using a proprietary saltwater fermentation and freshwater cell-burst extraction process. It sells injection moulding-grade pellets for rigid products such as packaging, automotive interiors, and consumer goods, and fibre-grade pellets for textile and apparel applications. It also markets a high-protein seaweed biomass by-product for aquaculture feed.
Product overview
Uluu is a biomaterials company producing polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) from farmed seaweed as a natural alternative to fossil fuel-based plastics. The product portfolio centers on Uluu PHA materials available as rigid products (injection moulding-grade pellets for packaging, electronics, furniture, and automotive interiors) and fabrics (fibre-grade pellets for textile production via melt spinning). Future development areas include films, foams, coatings, and 3D printing filaments. The company also produces vegan protein as a by-product from the seaweed biomass for aquaculture feed applications. All Uluu materials are biodegradable, marine-safe, and climate-positive, designed to work with existing plastic manufacturing equipment.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Uluu Rigid Products Injection moulding-grade PHA pellets manufactured from seaweed-derived biopolymer, designed for rigid applications such as packaging, consumer electronics, furniture, cosmetics containers, and automotive interiors. Properties can be tuned per customer and integrate with existing plastic manufacturing infrastructure. Targeted at enterprise brand owners and manufacturers.
- Uluu Fabrics Fibre-grade PHA pellets produced for yarn manufacturing via melt spinning, providing a microplastic-free alternative to polyester for performance fabrics, apparel components, and textile applications. Targeted at textile mills, apparel brands, and fibre converters.
- Uluu Vegan Protein High-protein (approximately 50%) by-product from seaweed biomass remaining after PHA extraction, sold as a fishmeal alternative for aquaculture feed with additional potential applications in soil treatment, pet food, and human nutrition. Targeted at aquaculture feed producers.
Quantifiable outcome
- Up to 5kg CO₂ equivalent sequestered/avoided per 1kg of material produced, compared with ~3kg emitted by conventional plastic production
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use ULUU
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
ULUU technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
ULUU partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.
- Good CitizensmajorPartnership to create seaweed sunglasses. Good Citizens is an award-winning design company founded in 2018 to invent ways to turn single-use bottles into recycled ethical sunglasses. Prototype sunglasses manufactured using Uluu pellets.
- QuiksilvercoreMulti-year partnership with iconic Australian surf brand. First product launched: boardshorts with 'Made with Uluu' wax combs - the first product to feature Uluu material. Working on developing 'Made with Uluu' apparel.
- PapinellecorePartnership with sleepwear brand Papinelle launching pyjamas featuring world's first seaweed buttons. Each button represents revolution in miniature - turning seaweed into biodegradable plastic replacement.
- AudicoreAudi featured Uluu in a stunning video and article showcasing Uluu's potential to revolutionize automotive manufacturing. Aligns with Audi's commitment to reducing environmental impacts across manufacturing processes.
- Indonesian Seaweed Farming CooperativescoreSeaSae JV company established in Indonesia to source certified seaweed from local farming cooperatives. Ensures traceable, sustainable seaweed supply chains and in-country processing. Gracilaria red seaweed sourced from world's second largest producer.
- University of Western Australia (UWA)coreR&D partner. Uluu co-located at Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre. Collaborating with UWA Ocean Institute scientists. Partner since pre-seed stage.
- CSIROcoreAustralian national science organization and R&D partner. Their VC fund Main Sequence invested in Uluu.
- Deakin UniversitymajorR&D partner listed on technology page for biopolymer development collaboration.
- University of Queensland (UQ)majorR&D partner listed on technology page for biopolymer development collaboration.
- Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD)majorWA Government department listed as R&D partner on technology page.
- World Wildlife Fund (WWF)minorListed as impact partner on impact page. WWF Indonesia partnership.
- Go-PHAminorPHA industry organization listed as impact partner.
- Growth ActivistsminorImpact partner organization listed on impact page.
Scale indicators11 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights7 records
ULUU competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- NatureWorks: NatureWorks is the world's largest PLA bioplastic producer (Ingeo brand) serving packaging, fiber, and 3D printing customers globally. It is a broad incumbent in bio-based plastics that competes with Uluu in plastics substitution applications despite using a different resin chemistry.
- TotalEnergies Corbion: TotalEnergies Corbion is a global PLA bioplastics joint venture producing Luminy PLA resins at commercial scale for packaging, durables, and fiber applications. It competes with Uluu in replacing fossil plastics but offers a different (PLA) chemistry at much larger scale.
- CJ CheilJedang (CJ BIO): CJ CheilJedang (CJ BIO) is a major Korean biochemical company producing PHA (Amethyst) biopolymers at commercial scale for global plastics and fiber customers. It represents one of the largest commercial-scale PHA incumbents Uluu must compete against.
Direct peers
- Notpla: Notpla is a UK-based startup producing seaweed-based packaging and edible films as plastic alternatives. It shares Uluu's seaweed feedstock foundation and sustainability narrative, targeting food service and consumer goods brands with biodegradable packaging.
- Danimer Scientific: Danimer Scientific is a US-listed PHA biopolymer producer (Nodax brand) selling biodegradable plastics to consumer goods and packaging customers. It is the closest direct competitor to Uluu, operating in the same PHA resin category serving similarly sustainability-driven brand owners.
- RWDC Industries: RWDC Industries produces Solon PHA biopolymers from plant-based oils for packaging, food serviceware, and fiber applications. It is a direct PHA peer competing for the same brand customers and use cases Uluu targets.
Emerging players
- Newlight Technologies: Newlight produces AirCarbon PHA biopolymers from greenhouse gas using microbial fermentation, with applications in packaging, foodservice, and durables. It is an emerging PHA player targeting similar end-markets to Uluu via a different feedstock pathway.
- Loliware: Loliware produces seaweed-based bioplastic straws, cups, and packaging as single-use plastic alternatives. It shares Uluu's seaweed-derived biodegradable plastics positioning and targets hospitality/foodservice brand customers.
- Mango Materials: Mango Materials produces PHA biopolymers from waste biogas (methane) using microbial fermentation. It competes in the same PHA category as Uluu but uses a different feedstock, representing an alternative emerging route to the same biodegradable plastic end-product.
Regional players
- Tianjin GreenBio Materials: Tianjin GreenBio is a Chinese PHA producer (largest in Asia by capacity) selling PHBH/PHB biopolymers for packaging and agricultural films. It is a regional PHA incumbent serving similar use cases to Uluu, particularly in Asian markets.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
ULUU social profiles
Digital presenceULUU compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance5 records
ULUU financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
ULUU leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
ULUU subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
ULUU funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds6 records
Investors13 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
ULUU 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 ULUU
What does ULUU do?
ULUU manufactures polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) biopolymer pellets from farmed seaweed using a proprietary saltwater fermentation and freshwater cell-burst extraction process. It sells injection moulding-grade pellets for rigid products such as packaging, automotive interiors, and consumer goods, and fibre-grade pellets for textile and apparel applications. It also markets a high-protein seaweed biomass by-product for aquaculture feed.
Is ULUU a public or private company?
ULUU is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was ULUU founded?
ULUU was founded in 2021. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is ULUU based?
ULUU is headquartered in Perth, Australia, in the Oceania region.
How does ULUU make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. PHA Biopolymer Materials Sales are the primary driver. The others are vegan Protein By-Product.
Who are ULUU's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are NatureWorks, TotalEnergies Corbion and CJ CheilJedang (CJ BIO). Direct peers are Notpla, Danimer Scientific and RWDC Industries. Emerging players are Newlight Technologies, Loliware and Mango Materials. Tianjin GreenBio Materials is listed as a regional player.
Does ULUU have an API?
No public API is recorded for ULUU.
What industry is ULUU in?
ULUU's product category is Bioplastics and Biomaterials. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMANAAAG, Bio-based & Biodegradable Polymer Resin Manufacturing (PLA, PHA, PBS, starch blends), with a secondary code of IMAEAOAA, Biodegradable Polymers & Resins (PLA, PHA, PBS, PBAT). Its NAICS code is 325211 and its SIC code is 2860.