Welcome aboard Searo Labs - member interview

2024-10-17

 

1.1       How did Searo Labs start, and what was your motivation?

Searo Labs was founded with the mission to find sustainable alternatives to traditional land-based resources like corn or potatoes, which compete with human food supplies and are not scalable in an environmentally sustainable way. We recognized that relying on these agricultural resources would lead to deforestation and require even more land as the global population grows and the demand for fossil fuel alternatives increases. To address this, we decided to shift our focus to the ocean, a largely untapped source of sustainable resources.

Seaweed emerged as a natural choice due to its rapid growth cycles and fast growing speed. Not only does seaweed grow quickly, but it also positively impacts the ecosystem. For instance, some species can be harvested within 45 days, providing an opportunity to source materials sustainably. Furthermore, seaweed captures more carbon than trees, oxygenates and deacidifies water, and creates habitats that foster marine biodiversity.

By incorporating seaweed into our materials, we are not only sequestering carbon but also ensuring that, at the end of its life, the material can be composted, returning the carbon to the soil. This approach creates a circular life cycle for our products. Additionally, seaweed-based materials help extend the shelf life of food, addressing both plastic and food waste—another unique selling point that we continue to innovate on.

1.2       Can you elaborate on the products Searo Labs develops?

At Searo Labs, we develop a wide range of products using seaweed-based materials. These include alternatives to paper-based structural containers, such as cups, as well as films that can be transformed into various products. For example, we create laundry pods, edible films, flow-wrap packaging for food, and even non-woven textiles that can serve as alternatives to leather. The applications of our developed material are incredibly diverse.

We operate on a licensing model, enabling companies to adopt our technology and scale it. By providing access to our technology through licensing, we empower other companies to produce these sustainable materials on a larger scale.

1.3       What are you looking for in the North Sea Farmers network?

For us, being connected to the North Sea Farmers network is crucial. It allows us to be part of a broader ecosystem of seaweed farmers and others who use seaweed as a resource. This connection helps us understand each other's challenges and rewards when working with seaweed. We aim to strengthen our relationships with seaweed farmers, especially given the impact of global warming and environmental changes. Establishing a versatile supply chain requires these connections.

We are interested in exploring case studies and collaborations where we can source materials from seaweed farmers or develop products together. Understanding how these farmers are scaling their operations and how we can support each other is vital as we are still an early-stage company, and many seaweed farmers are also in a growth phase.

1.4       What is something you bring to the network?

Our primary contribution to the network is our expertise in biopolymers, specifically in converting seaweed into bioplastics. If any member of the network, whether a company or farmer, is interested in experimenting with converting seaweed waste into bioplastics or other related projects, we would be happy to engage in those conversations.

While bioplastics may represent a small portion of the overall ecosystem, we are eager to participate in discussions about their potential, the benefits of using bioplastics from seaweed, and how this technology can be integrated into various processes. We see this as an opportunity to share our journey and knowledge about bioplastics, giving back to the community.

Additionally, we offer lab testing services, although this would involve a service fee. If small seaweed farmers want to test the toxicity or strength of their products, or if they need assistance in creating data sheets, we are ready to provide that support.