Shellworks lands $15M to scale compostable plastic rival
London-based materials startup Shellworks has raised $15 million in a Series A round to scale production of Vivomer, its microbe-made material designed to replace conventional plastics. The company says the funding will support manufacturing ramp-up and commercial expansion across the US and EU, with Alter Equity backing the round.
What Vivomer is—and why pricing matters
Vivomer is positioned as a compostable alternative to petroleum-based plastics, produced using microbes rather than fossil feedstocks. Shellworks says the material is now cost-competitive with glass in target applications—an important milestone as sustainable packaging often struggles to match the economics of incumbent materials.
Scaling and go-to-market plans
The company plans to use the new capital to increase capacity and meet demand from brands seeking lower-impact packaging options. Expansion into the US and EU will focus on building commercial partnerships and establishing supply capabilities that can serve larger customers at consistent quality and volumes.
Broader context
Compostable and bio-based materials have drawn increased attention as regulators and consumer brands look to reduce single-use plastic waste. However, adoption has been constrained by cost, performance trade-offs, and end-of-life infrastructure. By emphasizing both microbial production and cost parity in certain use cases, Shellworks is aiming to compete not only on sustainability claims but also on unit economics.
The company did not disclose additional round participants or detailed revenue figures, but said the Series A financing will accelerate its path toward wider commercialization of Vivomer.
Related
