Sunday's THOUGHTFUL Post : Seaweed packaging! Myth versus reality!

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Sunday's THOUGHTFUL Post

Seaweed packaging! Myth versus reality!

Seaweed-based bioplastics offer promise as an alternative to conventional plastics, but they still face significant hurdles before becoming a mainstream choice. Here's why:

1. Performance Limitations:

- Mechanical Strength: Seaweed bioplastics are often weaker and more brittle than petroleum-based or PLA/PHB bioplastics.

- Water Sensitivity: Many seaweed bioplastics are highly hydrophilic, limiting their use for packaging liquids or in humid environments.

- Durability: These bioplastics have a limited shelf life and degrade over time, suitable for composting but challenging for usability.


2. High Cost of Production:

- Raw Material Costs: Harvesting, drying, and processing seaweed are labor- and energy-intensive.

- Low Yield: Extracting usable biopolymer components results in relatively low material output.

- No Economies of Scale: Limited mass production leads to higher costs compared to fossil-based plastics.


3. Supply Chain and Scaling Issues:

- Limited seaweed farming infrastructure and suitable farming conditions.

- Lack of processing facilities equipped for seaweed feedstocks.


4. Inconsistent Material Quality:

- Variability in seaweed species' chemical composition leads to difficulties in standardization and inconsistent product performance.


5. Lack of Industry Adoption and Certification:

- Few major companies have embraced seaweed-based materials.

- Biodegradability and compostability standards are not consistently met.

- Regulatory approval, especially for food-contact materials, can be slow and costly.


6. Niche Applications Only:

- Seaweed bioplastics are currently more suitable for single-use, low-performance items and local or artisanal products.


7. Communication:

- Seaweed has a great potential in feed, biostimulants, fertilizers, food, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. it also represents a true natural candidate for bioremediation or biogaz. Meanwhile it has been too often presented as the golden ingredient and many entrepreneurs have failed due to the slow demand or the cost of farming and transformation.


In conclusion, while seaweed bioplastics show potential in niche applications, they are not yet a viable replacement for conventional plastics. The technical limitations, high costs, and scalability challenges hinder their widespread adoption. At the same time Seaweed remains a good opportunity for industrial applications but the time and investment is more important. I'd like to advertise a few key actors that have found the way to make seaweed and industrial success.


source : Pierre Erwes

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