Biorefinery Transforms Invasive Algae into Sustainable Materials

As industries increasingly seek sustainable alternatives to fossil-based ingredients, innovative material solutions are emerging from unexpected sources. One such example is the Finnish company Origin by Ocean, which has partnered with fine chemicals specialist CABB Group to build a pioneering biorefinery in Finland that transforms invasive brown algae into valuable biobased materials. This development holds significant potential for product designers, packaging developers, fashion brands, and interior designers looking for functional, circular, and renewable materials.

The Growing Problem of Sargassum Blooms

In recent years, coastal regions such as the Caribbean and West Africa have faced severe challenges from sargassum blooms, a type of invasive brown seaweed. Fuelled by rising sea temperatures and agricultural runoff, these massive algal blooms produce up to 40 million tonnes of biomass annually. The blooms threaten marine ecosystems, impact local economies such as tourism and fishing, and require costly clean-up efforts; for example, Jamaica alone spends an estimated $120 million each year to clear its beaches. Rather than viewing this growing environmental problem as waste, Origin by Ocean sees an opportunity to close material loops by converting sargassum into high-value ingredients that can replace petrochemical-based raw materials in numerous applications.

A First-of-Its-Kind Biorefinery in Finland

The planned facility in Kokkola, Finland, will be the first of its kind. Using Origin by Ocean’s patented biorefinery technology, the plant will process the harvested sargassum into alginate, which finds use in packaging films, food additives, and cosmetic formulations; fucoidan, a bioactive compound with applications in pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, and skincare; and biomass residue, which can serve as raw material for biobased plastics, packaging solutions, textiles, or fertilisers. Unlike conventional chemical processes, this biorefinery model uses a Manufacturing-as-a-Service (MaaS) approach, with Origin by Ocean constructing the facility and CABB operating it. The facility is expected to become operational by 2028.

Global Potential for Sustainable Applications

While the first facility will be built at CABB’s production site in Finland’s Kokkola Industrial Park — the largest inorganic chemical industry cluster in Northern Europe — the technology is designed for global scalability. Origin by Ocean is already exploring opportunities to build additional biorefineries closer to the source of sargassum blooms, including in the Caribbean. The partnership addresses an estimated global market worth $220 billion, covering sectors such as cosmetics, personal care, packaging, textiles, pharmaceuticals, and food production. For product designers and material innovators, the technology offers a growing portfolio of biobased, biodegradable, and circular material solutions that align with increasing sustainability demands and regulatory pressures.

Opportunities for Designers Across Disciplines

Designers across disciplines may benefit from these developments. Packaging developers might apply alginate-based flexible films and coatings, while product designers could explore bio-composite applications using biomass residues. Fashion designers, as seen in Origin by Ocean’s collaboration with Marimekko, may integrate biobased polymers or skincare actives derived from fucoidan. Interior designers might incorporate these materials into sustainable surface treatments or interior products. The collaboration exemplifies how material innovation can transform waste into opportunity, creating new supply chains that support both environmental restoration and industrial decarbonisation.

Source & Photos: Origin by Ocean