Terravive
Terravive is a Richmond, Virginia-based advanced materials company that designs, manufactures, and sells American-made, plant-based compostable foodservice products (clamshells, cutlery, cups, straws, bags, parchment) as plastic replacements, serving federal/state government, universities, stadiums, retail, and food service customers via direct enterprise sales across 30 U.S. states.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersRichmond, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Terravive does
Terravive is a Richmond, Virginia-based advanced materials company founded in 2015 by CEO Julianna Keeling that designs, manufactures, and sells American-made compostable single-use foodservice products as direct replacements for conventional plastic disposables. Its core technology is a patented plant-based biopolymer system built primarily from upcycled sugarcane bagasse fiber, engineered to perform like plastic in use while biodegrading in less than six months in marine environments and decomposing in backyard compost without producing microplastics. The product portfolio spans clamshell takeout containers, bowls, plates, trays, deli containers, cutlery, hot and cold cups with lids, straws, resealable bags, trash liners, and parchment paper, all PFAS-free and certified by BPI/ASTM D6400, TUV Austria (home compostable and marine degradable), and USDA BioPreferred.
The company operates an enterprise B2B go-to-market with a direct sales force handling orders ranging from case-level quantities to billion-piece contracts, supported by custom branding, custom sizing with MOQs, and a quote-based pricing model. Distribution is domestic-led through 16 U.S. manufacturing locations and warehouses reaching 30 states, with additional international distribution capability; products are also available via the company website storefront for smaller buyers. Customers span federal and state government agencies, universities, stadiums, big-box and regional retailers, and food service providers.
Revenue is not publicly disclosed, and the company appears largely bootstrapped aside from a $72,778 VIPC grant in 2022; headcount sits in the 11–50 range with active hiring across finance, operations, product, and sales functions. Certifications as WOSB, SDB, SWAM, and WBENC Gold Standard position Terravive for government and diversity-oriented procurement, while leadership — a chemistry and environmental studies founder paired with a Navy-veteran COO holding 25+ years of cross-sector operational and M&A experience — supports both technical credibility and operational scaling.
Terravive firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Terravive
- Legal name
- Terravive
- Website
- https://terravive.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Terravive is a Richmond, Virginia-based advanced materials company that designs, manufactures, and sells American-made, plant-based compostable foodservice products (clamshells, cutlery, cups, straws, bags, parchment) as plastic replacements, serving federal/state government, universities, stadiums, retail, and food service customers via direct enterprise sales across 30 U.S. states.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Terravive industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Compostable Foodservice Products
- NAICS
- Sanitary Paper Product Manufacturing (322291)
- SIC
- Plastics, Foil & Coated Paper Bags (2673), Paperboard Containers & Boxes (2650)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Foodservice Disposables (cups, plates, bowls, trays, clamshells) (IMAMAHAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Compostable & Bio-Based Packaging (PLA/PHA, Starch Blends, Cellulose Films) (IMALAMAB), Compostable Materials & Certified Compostables (IMAEAOAC), Compostable & Bio-based Rigid Packaging (injection/blow/thermoform) (IMANANAD)
Keywords
Where Terravive is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Richmond
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Terravive business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Compostable Food Service Products: Direct product sales of American-made compostable single-use consumer products including takeout containers, plates, bowls, trays, deli containers, cutlery, cups, lids, straws, bags, and parchment paper. Revenue generated from case-level orders to billion-piece enterprise contracts. Custom branding and sizing available with MOQs.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Standard commercial products available in case quantities |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels8 records
Terravive product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Terravive manufactures and sells American-made compostable single-use food service products, including takeout containers, clamshells, bowls, plates, trays, deli containers, cutlery, cups, lids, straws, bags, and parchment paper. Products are made from patented plant-based materials (primarily bagasse/sugarcane fiber) engineered to perform like plastic while biodegrading in compost, marine, and landfill environments. The company sells from case quantities to billion-piece enterprise contracts with custom branding available.
Product overview
Terravive offers a comprehensive suite of American-made, compostable single-use foodservice products designed as direct replacements for traditional plastic disposables. The product portfolio includes takeout containers/clamshells, bowls/soup containers, plates, trays, deli containers in various shapes (rectangular, round, square), cutlery, hot and cold cups with matching lids, drinking straws, resealable bags, trash can liners, shopping bags, and parchment paper. All products are manufactured in the USA using patented plant-based materials that are certified compostable, marine degradable, and home compostable. The company also offers custom packaging solutions for businesses requiring branded sustainable alternatives to conventional plastic.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Takeout Containers (Clamshells) Compostable fiber clamshell takeout containers available in single and multi-compartment options, designed to hold hot and cold foods without PFAS or microplastics.
- Bowls, Plates, & Trays Compostable bowls, soup containers, round plates, and 5-compartment trays made from bagasse fiber with oil and grease resistance, including domed and flat lids.
- Deli Containers Clear compostable deli containers in rectangular, round, and square shapes with matching lids, made from plant materials without added PFAS.
- Cutlery Medium-heavy duty compostable cutlery including forks, knives, spoons available in bulk or individually wrapped, with compostable packaging.
- Cups & Lids Single wall and double wall compostable hot cups with kraft paper and PLA biopolymer lining, plus clear PLA cold cups and matching lids in various sizes.
- Straws Compostable drinking straws including standard, long, milkshake, cocktail, and boba straws, certified marine degradable and home compostable with identical look and feel to plastic.
- Bags Compostable bags including resealable food storage bags, trash can liners, and take-out shopping bags made from patented plant materials, certified home compostable.
- Parchment Paper Compostable parchment paper for sandwich wraps and container liners, free from added PFAS while providing grease and oil resistance for food applications.
- Custom Packaging Custom branded compostable serviceware and sustainable packaging solutions including custom bags, film, and rollstock substitutions for polyethylene applications.
Quantifiable outcome
- Products biodegrade in less than 6 months in ocean environments without creating microplastics
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Terravive
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Terravive technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Terravive partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation (VIPC)coreVIPC commercialization project supporting Terravive's R&D testing for biodegradability of innovations. Part of Virginia's innovation ecosystem supporting advanced materials development and testing of compost products.
- BPI (Biodegradable Products Institute)coreThird-party certification body providing BPI Certified Compostable designation for Terravive products meeting ASTM D6400 standards.
- TUV AustriacoreProvides Home Compostable and Marine Degradability certifications for Terravive products, verifying breakdown in various environments without harmful residue.
- Ellen MacArthur FoundationminorSustainability framework reference organization promoting circular economy principles that align with Terravive's product lifecycle approach.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Terravive competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Eco-Products: Largest U.S. brand of compostable single-use foodservice products (cups, plates, cutlery, containers). Direct competitor to Terravive across corporate, university, stadium, and government accounts.
- BioPak: Manufacturer of compostable packaging and foodservice ware from renewable plant-based materials (bagasse, PLA, paper). Highly comparable technology stack and product portfolio to Terravive.
- World Centric: Certified compostable foodservice disposables (plates, bowls, cups, cutlery) sold into foodservice, education, and government channels. Direct head-to-head competitor with overlapping customer profiles.
- Vegware: UK-based maker of compostable foodservice packaging using plant-based materials (PLA, bagasse, palm leaf). Closely comparable product mix and end-markets to Terravive.
Broad incumbents
- Novolex: Parent of Eco-Products and a major manufacturer of paper and plastic foodservice packaging. Represents the scale incumbent that Terravive competes against for large enterprise and government contracts.
- Sabert Corporation: Manufacturer of sustainable and compostable foodservice packaging including bowls, trays, and containers. Competes in the same foodservice and retail channels as Terravive.
- Dart Container Corporation: Large U.S. manufacturer of foodservice disposables (cups, containers, lids, cutlery) including a growing sustainable product line. Competes with Terravive on contract foodservice accounts at scale.
- Huhtamaki: Global foodservice packaging manufacturer with paperboard and fiber-based product lines serving restaurants, stadiums, and retail. Overlapping product categories and channels make it a broad incumbent peer.
Others
- NatureWorks LLC: Producer of Ingeo PLA biopolymer used in compostable cups, containers, and cutlery. Comparable as an enabling materials supplier to the category Terravive competes in, though not a direct foodservice brand.
Emerging players
- Trellis Earth: Smaller U.S. distributor of compostable foodservice products and bioplastics. Comparable business model to Terravive's direct B2B foodservice focus but smaller scale.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Terravive social profiles
Digital presenceTerravive compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance10 records
Terravive financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Terravive leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Terravive funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Terravive 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 Terravive
What does Terravive do?
Terravive manufactures and sells American-made compostable single-use food service products, including takeout containers, clamshells, bowls, plates, trays, deli containers, cutlery, cups, lids, straws, bags, and parchment paper. Products are made from patented plant-based materials (primarily bagasse/sugarcane fiber) engineered to perform like plastic while biodegrading in compost, marine, and landfill environments. The company sells from case quantities to billion-piece enterprise contracts with custom branding available.
Is Terravive a public or private company?
Terravive is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Terravive founded?
Terravive was founded in 2015. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Terravive based?
Terravive is headquartered in Richmond, United States, in the North America region.
How does Terravive make money?
One revenue line is on record: compostable Food Service Products.
Who are Terravive's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Eco-Products, BioPak, World Centric and Vegware. Broad incumbents are Novolex, Sabert Corporation, Dart Container Corporation and Huhtamaki. NatureWorks LLC is listed as an others. Trellis Earth is listed as an emerging player.
Does Terravive have an API?
No public API is recorded for Terravive.
What industry is Terravive in?
Terravive's product category is Compostable Foodservice Products. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAMAHAI, Foodservice Disposables (cups, plates, bowls, trays, clamshells), with a secondary code of IMALAMAB, Compostable & Bio-Based Packaging (PLA/PHA, Starch Blends, Cellulose Films). Its NAICS code is 322291 and its SIC code is 2673.