Summary

Shellworks is a materials company that creates fully compostable alternatives to traditional plastic packaging. Their core product, Vivomer, is a plant-based, non-toxic material (PHA) that is home-compostable. Designed to mimic the functionality and aesthetics of conventional plastic, Vivomer can be used in a range of packaging products including tubs, bottles, fragrance caps, and drinking cups—primarily serving industries like beauty, wellness, and personal care. Shellworks produces its innovative material, Vivomer, through a bio-manufacturing process powered by microbes. It begins with microbial fermentation, where naturally occurring microorganisms are fed plant-based waste in fermentation tanks, allowing them to produce natural polymer granules inside their cells. (Source) These granules are then extracted and formulated into a versatile, plastic-like material.Shellworks supports clients throughout the entire development process, offering services from material formulation and testing to 3D prototyping and scalable manufacturing. They also operate in-house compost systems to rigorously test product breakdown under real-world conditions. With TÜV Austria certification and a proven track record of replacing over 900,000 plastic units, Shellworks is actively helping brands reduce their environmental footprint by eliminating petroleum-based packaging. (Source)

Story

Shellworks was co-founded in 2019 by Insiya Jafferjee and Amir Afshar, who met while pursuing a dual Master’s in Innovation Design Engineering at the Royal College of Art and Imperial College London. Insiya brought extensive manufacturing experience from brands like Apple, Bose, and Ford, while Amir contributed nearly a decade of design expertise with a focus on natural materials—together uniting their complementary skills to build Shellworks. (Source)

Pic credit: Sustainability Packaging News (right) and Morrama (top)