London biomaterials startup Shellworks has secured $15 million in Series A funding to accelerate the development and global deployment of its plastic alternative material, Vivomer.
The round was led by Paris-based impact investor alter equity, with participation from Nat Friedman’s NFDG, JamJar, and existing investors Founder Collective, LocalGlobe, and Third Sphere. The company plans to use the funding to expand production and commercial adoption of its biodegradable packaging material across European and North American markets.
What The Company Does
Founded in 2019, Shellworks develops bio-based materials designed to replace conventional plastics used in packaging. Its flagship product, Vivomer, is engineered to provide similar performance characteristics to traditional plastic while offering a significantly lower environmental impact.
Vivomer is produced through a microbial fermentation process that converts second-generation feedstocks, including used cooking oil, into biodegradable polymers. The material behaves similarly to conventional plastics during manufacturing and use but breaks down naturally after disposal.
This approach allows companies to adopt sustainable packaging materials without requiring major changes to existing manufacturing processes. Vivomer can be used with common packaging technologies and is designed to perform reliably across a range of consumer product applications.
Shellworks positions the material as a practical alternative for brands seeking to reduce their reliance on petroleum-based plastics while maintaining product performance and cost efficiency.
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Market Context / Industry Background
The global packaging sector is under increasing pressure to reduce plastic waste and transition toward more sustainable materials. Governments in Europe and other regions are introducing stricter regulations around single-use plastics, while consumer brands face growing expectations to reduce environmental impact across their supply chains.
Despite strong demand for sustainable packaging solutions, cost has remained a significant barrier to widespread adoption. Many alternative materials have struggled to compete economically with conventional plastics, particularly when produced at smaller scales.
Shellworks aims to address this challenge by designing bio-based materials that can achieve cost parity with traditional packaging materials as production scales. The company reports that Vivomer is already cost-competitive with common alternatives such as glass and aluminium under certain production conditions.
This positioning could make bio-based packaging more accessible to consumer brands seeking practical solutions to meet sustainability targets.
Founder / Investor Commentary
Shellworks CEO and co-founder Insiya Jafferjee said that the company’s focus has been on proving that sustainable materials can compete economically with established packaging solutions.
“Sustainable materials have long been seen as too expensive for widespread adoption,” Jafferjee said. “We’re proving that’s no longer true. At just a fraction of plastic’s scale, we’re already cost-competitive with alternatives like glass and aluminum. As we scale further, we’ll only get more competitive.”
The company believes that reaching cost competitiveness early in its scaling process will help accelerate adoption among consumer brands that need to transition to environmentally responsible packaging solutions.
Growth Plans / Use Of Funds
Shellworks will use the new funding to expand its commercial footprint across the United States and the European Union, with an initial focus on the wellness and personal care sectors.
The company plans to build a regional production network that supports localized manufacturing in order to reduce transportation emissions and strengthen supply chain resilience. This includes establishing facilities across the UK, Europe, and the United States.
Shellworks also intends to expand the range of packaging formats supported by Vivomer through technologies such as blow moulding, enabling the material to be used in a wider variety of consumer packaging applications.
By developing a distributed production model and increasing manufacturing capacity, the company aims to support global brands transitioning away from petroleum-based plastics while maintaining scalable supply.
About Shellworks
Shellworks is a biomaterials company focused on developing sustainable packaging alternatives. Founded in 2019 and headquartered in London, the company creates bio-based and compostable materials designed to replace conventional plastics. Its flagship material, Vivomer, is produced through microbial fermentation and is designed to deliver the performance of traditional packaging while reducing environmental impact.
