Kelpi
Kelpi is a UK-based sustainable biotech start-up that develops ultra-thin seaweed-derived barrier coatings for paper and fibre packaging, serving global brands in food, personal care, cosmetics and home care to replace fossil-fuel plastics.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2020
- HeadquartersBristol, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Kelpi does
Kelpi is a Bristol-headquartered, UK-based sustainable biotech start-up founded in 2020 that develops ultra-thin (0.01mm) seaweed-derived barrier coatings for paper, card and fibre packaging. Its core technology functionalises natural carbohydrates from sustainably-farmed seaweed combined with vegetable oils to produce coatings that match or exceed fossil-fuel plastic barrier performance (water vapour transmission rate <2 g/m²/d, oxygen transmission rate 6 cm³/m²/d) while being curb-side recyclable in standard paper streams and fully biodegradable. The product portfolio comprises four lines: paper-based flexible sachets, high-performance coated papers, industrial coating solutions (applicable via roto-gravure and reverse roll coating at weights as low as 3 gsm), and compounded pellets for extrusion.
Kelpi serves global brand owners in food and drink, personal care, cosmetics and home care (L'Oréal, Diageo, Waitrose, Homethings) through R&D contracts and pilot programmes, and works with packaging converters and manufacturers (Guardpack) to scale production. Revenue is generated through coating materials sales (powders, ready-made coating solutions and pellets supplied to converters), custom-coated papers and bespoke coating solutions sold as one-time licences to brand owners, and professional-services R&D contracts with global brands.
The company is privately held (legal entity Kelp Industries Ltd), has raised approximately £4.35M in disclosed equity funding led by Blackfinch Ventures with a consortium of UK impact and climate investors, is B Corp certified (score 95.0), and operates from a headquarters at Science Creates Old Market in Bristol with a kilo-lab and scale-up facility supporting pilot and commercial manufacturing. The first commercial products — 100% bio-based recyclable refill sachets for home and personal care — launched in 2026 through partnership with Homethings, and the company is preparing for a Series A round in 2026.
Kelpi firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Kelpi
- Legal name
- Kelp Industries Ltd
- Website
- https://kelpi.net
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2020
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Kelpi is a UK-based sustainable biotech start-up that develops ultra-thin seaweed-derived barrier coatings for paper and fibre packaging, serving global brands in food, personal care, cosmetics and home care to replace fossil-fuel plastics.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Kelpi industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Sustainable Packaging Materials
- NAICS
- Resin, Synthetic Rubber, and Artificial and Synthetic Fibers and Filaments Manufacturing (3252)
- SIC
- Plastic Materials, Synth Resins & Nonvulcan Elastomers (2821)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Biodegradable Coatings & Barrier Layers (paper/packaging barriers) (IMAEAOAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Compostable & Bio-Based Packaging (PLA/PHA, Starch Blends, Cellulose Films) (IMALAMAB), Compostable & Bio-Based Flexible Packaging (PLA, PHA, Cellulose Films) (IMALABAO), Biodegradable Additives & Masterbatches (pro-oxidant-free, bio-based modifiers) (IMAEAOAD)
Keywords
Where Kelpi is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bristol
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Kelpi business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Coating Materials Sales: Supplying seaweed-based coating materials as powder for blending, ready-made coating solutions for roto-gravure or reverse roll coating lines, and pellets for extrusion to packaging converters and manufacturers
- Custom Coating Solutions: High performance coated papers and bespoke coating solutions tailored to specific applications, substrates and client requirements
- R&D Contracts: Research and development contracts with global brands to develop and test packaging solutions for specific product applications
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
Kelpi product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Kelpi bio-refines sustainably-farmed seaweed into ultra-thin (0.01mm) biopolymer barrier coatings applied to paper, card, and fibre packaging. The company supplies coating solutions, compounded pellets, pre-coated papers, and finished flexible sachets to packaging converters and global consumer brands, replacing fossil-fuel plastic laminates with marine-safe, home-compostable, curb-side recyclable alternatives.
Product overview
Kelpi offers a portfolio of four seaweed-based packaging product lines designed to replace fossil fuel-based plastics. The core offering consists of paper-based flexible sachets (for water-based products and hygroscopic powders), high-performance coated papers (tailored to specific applications with water vapour and oxygen barrier properties), industrial coating solutions (for paper, card and fibre substrates applied via standard coating methods), and compounded pellets (for extrusion applications enabling additional product format routes). These products share a common seaweed-derived biopolymer technology platform that provides excellent water and oxygen barrier performance while being fully recyclable and biodegradable.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Paper-Based Flexible Sachets Paper-based flexible sachets with high-performance seaweed-derived barriers designed for water-based products and hygroscopic powders, providing long shelf life for personal care, home care, and food products. Compatible with VFFS and HFFS packaging methods and fully recyclable within mainstream paper recycling systems.
- Coated Papers High performance coated papers tailored to each application, compatible with a wide range of substrates and additional barrier systems, providing superior protection against water vapour and oxygen with excellent heat-sealability and fully customisable properties.
- Coating Solutions Suite of bio-derived high-barrier coating solutions designed for seamless industrial-scale application across various paper, card and fibre substrates. Uses standard coating methods (roto-gravure, reverse roll coating) achieving occlusive, homogenous layers with coating weights as low as 3 gsm.
- Pellets Compounded pellets specifically designed for extrusion, produced using Kelpi's core seaweed-derived technology. Delivers same high-performance benefits as coating solutions while enabling different application and conversion routes, opening access to a broader range of product formats.
Quantifiable outcome
- 5M+ pieces of plastic replaced per tonne of Kelpi coating
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Kelpi
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Kelpi technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
Kelpi partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and major.
- HomethingscoreAward-winning planet-positive home-cleaning brand selected Kelpi's seaweed-derived coatings for next generation refill sachets - world's first deployment of Kelpi material. Both UK-based B Corp certified companies partnering to accelerate positive environmental change.
- GuardpackcoreUK-based wet wipe and liquid-filled sachet manufacturer partnered with Kelpi for sustainable sachet development using seaweed-derived coating. Following successful trials demonstrating reliable sealing, excellent machinability and strong printability, material undergoing further lab testing.
- L'OréalcoreSelected as one of 13 change makers in L'Oréal's €100 million L'AcceleratOR sustainable innovation programme run in partnership with University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership. Partnership began nearly four years ago with Beyond Plastic Challenge win. Kelpi will have access to L'Oréal's global resources to launch 9-month pilot projects with potential to scale across international operations.
- EIT Food RisingFoodStarssupportingSelected as one of 16 new scaleups in Europe's most promising agrifood technology acceleration programme, joining network that has raised over €870 million, launched 33 commercialised products and created more than 1,100 jobs.
- Henry Royce InstitutesupportingCollaborating with Kelpi on Innovate UK Analysis for Innovators Grant project, providing technical expertise and access to cutting-edge analytical equipment for material characterization.
- Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA)supportingCollaborating with Kelpi on Innovate UK grant project, contributing technical expertise and access to specialised analytical equipment for physicochemical characterisation of seaweed-based biomaterials.
- Blue SkiesmajorGlobal fresh fruit producer partnered with Kelpi in 18-month FRESHPPACT UKAid-funded project with support from Waitrose to eliminate plastic packaging and prototype seaweed-derived alternatives for fresh cut fruit packaging.
- WaitrosemajorUK supermarket supporting Kelpi and Blue Skies partnership for sustainable fresh cut fruit packaging development, aiming to eliminate plastic packaging and bring solutions to market in 2025.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Kelpi competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Notpla: London-based pioneer of seaweed-derived packaging (edible films, sachets, coating solutions). Closest direct competitor to Kelpi, also serving FMCG brands with seaweed-based flexible packaging and targeting plastic replacement in food, personal care, and home care.
- Loliware: US-based company producing seaweed-based bioplastic pellets and finished products (cups, straws). Comparable in offering a seaweed-derived material platform targeting single-use plastic replacement in food service and consumer packaging.
- Sway: Seaweed-based flexible packaging startup developing home-compostable films for consumer brands. Directly comparable in feedstock choice (seaweed), end-market focus (replacing flexible plastic packaging), and early-stage commercial trajectory.
- Paptic: Finnish company producing wood-fibre based sustainable packaging as a plastic-film replacement. Directly comparable in targeting paper-based flexible packaging with drop-in compatibility for converter infrastructure (VFFS/HFFS) and addressing FMCG sustainability requirements.
- Evoware: Indonesia-based company producing seaweed-based edible and biodegradable packaging for sachets and food containers. Comparable in seaweed feedstock and target use cases (sachets, food service) but operates in Southeast Asian markets with regional focus.
Emerging players
- Cruz Foam: California-based producer of bio-based protective packaging foam made from chitin. Comparable in offering drop-in sustainable alternatives to plastic foam/cushioning for packaging converters and consumer brands, though focused on protective applications rather than barrier coatings.
- Solutum: Israel-based startup developing biodegradable plastic alternatives for flexible packaging. Comparable as an early-stage company pursuing plastic replacement in flexible packaging formats, with similar go-to-market through brand partnerships.
Broad incumbents
- Coveris: Large European packaging converter with sustainability-focused product lines including recyclable/recycled-content flexibles. Comparable as a packaging converter partner/customer base for Kelpi; Kelpi NED Dylan Ellis is Coveris' Films MD, evidencing the strategic linkage.
- Huhtamaki: Global packaging major with a sustainability strategy and fiber-based flexible packaging portfolio. Comparable as a major incumbent exploring bio-based and recyclable alternatives — a potential customer, partner, or competitor depending on internal R&D direction.
- Mondi: Global paper and packaging group with significant sustainable packaging operations including kraft paper and recyclable flexibles. Comparable as a large incumbent serving FMCG customers with paper-based packaging — both a potential buyer of Kelpi's coating technology and a competitive threat if it develops in-house alternatives.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Kelpi social profiles
Digital presenceKelpi compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Kelpi financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Kelpi leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Kelpi funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds5 records
Investors12 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Kelpi 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 Kelpi
What does Kelpi do?
Kelpi bio-refines sustainably-farmed seaweed into ultra-thin (0.01mm) biopolymer barrier coatings applied to paper, card, and fibre packaging. The company supplies coating solutions, compounded pellets, pre-coated papers, and finished flexible sachets to packaging converters and global consumer brands, replacing fossil-fuel plastic laminates with marine-safe, home-compostable, curb-side recyclable alternatives.
Is Kelpi a public or private company?
Kelpi is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Kelpi founded?
Kelpi was founded in 2020. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Kelpi based?
Kelpi is headquartered in Bristol, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Kelpi make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Coating Materials Sales are the primary driver. The others are custom Coating Solutions and R&D Contracts.
Who are Kelpi's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Notpla, Loliware, Sway, Paptic and Evoware. Emerging players are Cruz Foam and Solutum. Broad incumbents are Coveris, Huhtamaki and Mondi.
Does Kelpi have an API?
No public API is recorded for Kelpi.
What industry is Kelpi in?
Kelpi's product category is Sustainable Packaging Materials. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAEAOAH, Biodegradable Coatings & Barrier Layers (paper/packaging barriers), with a secondary code of IMALAMAB, Compostable & Bio-Based Packaging (PLA/PHA, Starch Blends, Cellulose Films). Its NAICS code is 3252 and its SIC code is 2821.