How Seaweed Is Reinventing Everyday Packaging

In this episode of the Conscious Design Podcast, host Ian Peterman speaks with Julia Marsh, CEO and co-founder of Sway, a groundbreaking materials startup using seaweed-based bioplastics to replace single-use plastic packaging. Discover how Sway is replacing traditional plastic with home-compostable packaging, why seaweed is the future of sustainable materials, and how regenerative design can fight plastic pollution.

𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀

00:00 - Guest Intro

00:36 - The Problem with Plastic Packaging

04:05 - Discovering Seaweed as a Solution

05:15 - Birth of Sway: Developing Seaweed-Based Materials

08:26 - Challenges and Innovations in Seaweed Packaging

14:45 - Real-World Testing and Future Plans

28:34 - Conclusion and Contact Information

About Julia Marsh and Sway

Julia Marsh is the CEO and co-founder of Sway, a material innovation startup scaling seaweed-based, home-compostable packaging. Julia spent over a decade designing brand and packaging systems for consumer goods companies, technology startups, and design studios around the world. Her work is driven by a deep passion for regenerative design and biological circularity.

Sway's patented products match the vital performance attributes of conventional plastics and are designed to plug into existing infrastructure, enabling scale and massive impact. Unlike plastic, however, their materials are made from an abundant, regenerative resource and decompose into healthy soil after use.

In 2024, Sway was named a Fast Company World Changing Idea. In 2023, Sway won first place in the TOM FORD Plastic Innovation Prize. In 2021, Sway also won the Beyond the Bag Challenge sponsored by Closed Loop Partners and a consortium of major retailers. Sway’s solutions have garnered recognition from Vogue, Forbes, Business Insider, and Fast Company.

Sway is headquartered in the California Bay Area.

Sway is a material innovation startup scaling seaweed-based, home-compostable packaging.

Learn More about Julia Marsh and Sway

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/swaythefuture/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/swaythefuture/

Website: https://swaythefuture.com/

X: https://twitter.com/swaythefuture

Learn More about Conscious Design

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Conscious Design Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09KNMN9BT

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We created this content so that creative entrepreneurs like you can integrate social and environmental responsibility into your brand’s DNA through #ConsciousDesign. Ian Peterman, the leading expert in Conscious Design, hosts the Conscious Design podcast and is the co-author of the book "Conscious Design."