The new funding round will support the development of mass-market partnerships, the establishment of global manufacturing capabilities, and the scaling of sustainable materials designed to compete on price.
London-based biomaterials company Shellworks has raised $15 million in a Series A funding round led by Paris-based impact investment fund alter equity. The round also included participation from Nat Friedman (NFDG) and JamJar, founded by the creators of Innocent Drinks, alongside existing investors Founder Collective, LocalGlobe and Third Sphere.
Founded in 2019, Shellworks develops and manufactures Vivomer, a bio-based material designed as a sustainable alternative to conventional plastics. Its technology aims to deliver environmentally friendly packaging that remains cost-competitive and functional at scale, enabling brands to transition away from traditional plastics.
The funding comes as Shellworks reaches a milestone in cost competitiveness, demonstrating that its material can match the cost of conventional materials such as aluminium and glass despite operating at a smaller production scale of around five million units.
The development addresses a key barrier to wider adoption and positions the company to support brands seeking alternatives to petroleum-based packaging.
Insiya Jafferjee, CEO and co-founder of Shellworks, said sustainable materials have long been viewed as too costly for widespread adoption.
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.
Vivomer is produced by fermenting second-generation feedstocks, such as used cooking oil, with microbes and is designed to function like conventional plastic during use while biodegrading after disposal.
The new capital will support Shellworks’ expansion into the United States and the European Union, with a focus on the growing wellness sector.
As part of this strategy, the company plans to establish regional production capabilities to reduce carbon footprints and strengthen supply chain resilience, while developing a global production network focused on technologies such as blow moulding, with facilities planned across the UK, Europe and the US.