Shellworks raises £11.25m to scale Vivomer biodegradable packaging production via fermentation
This article covers Shellworks, a London-based material startup that has raised £11.25m ($15m) in a series A funding round to scale production and expand adoption of Vivomer, its bio-based alternative to conventional plastics. The funding is intended to help the startup move from demonstration-scale manufacturing toward regional production for brands in personal care and wellness, supporting wider adoption of a biodegradable packaging material.
Shellworks, a London-based material startup, has raised £11.25m ($15m) in a series A funding round to scale production and expand adoption of Vivomer, its bio-based alternative to conventional plastics. The funding aims to help the company move from demonstration-scale manufacturing toward regional production for brands in personal care and wellness, where demand for sustainable packaging is growing.
Why it matters
Packaging is one of the largest markets for single-use plastics, and cost has been a persistent barrier to switching to lower-impact alternatives. Shellworks says Vivomer can already match the price of materials such as aluminium and glass while operating at a relatively small production scale of roughly five million units. If that cost competitiveness holds as volumes rise, it could help brands transition away from petroleum-based plastics without adding a price premium.
Inside the product
Vivomer is produced via fermentation using second-generation feedstocks, including used cooking oil. The resulting material behaves like conventional plastic in use but is designed to biodegrade after disposal, which the company says reduces lifecycle environmental impact. Shellworks is pursuing manufacturing techniques common in the packaging industry, including blow moulding, and plans to develop regional facilities in the UK, Europe and the United States to cut transport-related emissions and build supply chain resilience.
The company was founded in 2019 and is targeting categories where sustainable packaging demand is accelerating, notably wellness and personal care. The funding will be used to accelerate commercial partnerships, expand manufacturing capacity and support international growth.
Who are the investors?
The round was led by Alter Equity, a Paris-based impact investment fund. Other participants include Nat Friedman (NFDG) and JamJar Investments, the venture firm founded by the creators of Innocent Drinks. Existing backers Founder Collective, LocalGlobe and Third Sphere also participated.
Alter Equity’s involvement signals interest from impact-focused investors in alternative materials. JamJar’s presence underlines demand from investors with consumer-brand experience, while repeat participation from Founder Collective and LocalGlobe provides continuity with Shellworks’ early backers and their experience in scaling startups.
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Founder perspective
In the announcement, Insiya Jafferjee, CEO and co-founder of Shellworks, said:
Sustainable materials have often been viewed as too expensive for mass adoption. We're proving that’s no longer the case. At just a fraction of plastic’s scale, we’re already cost-competitive with alternatives like glass and aluminium, and as we scale further, we expect to become even more competitive.
The bigger picture
Shellworks’ raise comes amid growing investor interest in circular economy solutions across Europe and the US, and greater regulatory and consumer pressure on brands to reduce single-use plastics. The round adds to momentum for companies looking to combine biotech processes with scalable manufacturing to displace conventional materials. For UK material startups, the challenge remains turning laboratory and pilot gains into reliable, regional production networks; this funding is intended to push Shellworks further down that path.
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