Plastic pollution is a globe-spanning problem, the consequences of which are often most visible in our oceans — where plastic waste collects, degrades into microplastics, and wreaking havoc on both marine ecosystems and human health. Yet, the oceans may also hold the solutions we need to move to a post-plastic planet.
The team of scientists and innovators behind Vancouver-based PhyCo Technologies believes seaweed is the future of food packaging, and they are putting the stuff to work to replace petroleum-based plastics with compostable, scalable alternatives.
PhyCo’s approach combines Canadian seaweed cultivation with localized organic waste streams to create bio-based pellets, films, and coatings. These are designed for industrial converters and packagers—targeting the 70% of plastic use that occurs out of sight in farming and food processing. Unlike conventional bioplastics, PhyCo’s process is built for industrial-scale production, with protected IP and partnerships guiding the transition from R&D into commercialization.
Supported by funding from CFIN’s NextGen Food Innovators program, PhyCo is also developing a seaweed-based antimicrobial and antifungal coating to extend the shelf life of fresh produce, especially cucumbers and berries. Using advanced spray-coater technology, the team is testing the coating on simple packaging substrates to evaluate durability, safety, and shelf-life benefits. The project is aimed at reducing both plastic use and food waste while contributing to Canada’s broader goals for lowering greenhouse gas emissions tied to food loss.
Plastic packaging remains one of the least recycled categories in Canada, with agri-food plastics largely absent from recovery systems. At the same time, produce is the most waste-prone food group in Canadian households and retail. PhyCo’s innovation meets both challenges: creating packaging materials that can compost safely while helping perishable foods last longer in the supply chain. That dual impact aligns with regulatory pressures such as extended producer responsibility (EPR) programs and supports Canada’s Zero Plastic Waste Agenda.
The company is advancing lab validation of its spray-on coating and preparing for pilots with produce distributors to test performance in real-world supply chains. At the same time, PhyCo is scaling its biorefinery outputs—pellets, films, and coatings—for commercial manufacturing. With protected IP, an industrial focus, and strategic partners, PhyCo is positioning itself as a player in the overlooked but massive B2B compostable packaging market—bringing ocean resources into the fight against ocean plastic pollution.