Graduates start-up business leads the way with seaweed based bioplastics in healthcare

SymbioTex, founded by graduates Olivia Simpson and Dr Mattia Parati is pioneering the use of seaweed-based materials as a sustainable alternative to traditional plastics.

The idea was sparked during Olivia’s NHS placement, where she witnessed the staggering amount of plastic waste generated by medical devices, over 60 million inhalers are distributed annually in the UK, with less than 1% recycled.

“Why are medical products that are meant to help our health, detrimental to the planet?” thought Olivia, the question that sparked the idea that would later create SymbioTex.

SymbioTex’s patented technology transforms seaweed into compostable materials which can be used to create products such as food packaging and medical devices. Unlike conventional plastics or bioplastics, SymbioTex’s material breaks down naturally without leaving behind any harmful residues.

Olivia’s entrepreneurial journey was supported by the Enterprise team at the University of Wolverhampton, who provide business guidance and resources to students. SymbioTex also secured the Lord Paul Funding Award in 2022, the University’s flagship initiative offering financial backing and business support through its Business Start-up Pitching Competition.  This unique opportunity empowers students to transform ideas into thriving ventures and that is exactly what Olivia did, championing sustainability and regional economic development.

Emma Holmes Senior Officer Enterprise Development at the University of Wolverhampton commented:

“We are pleased to have been able to provide support to Olivia and Mattia in their business venture, and are excited for their future potential and ingenuity in developing green, sustainable solutions.  SymbioTex were worthy winners of the Lord Paul Enterprise Award in 2022 and it’s wonderful to see them continue this success”.

SymbioTex remains deeply connected to University of Wolverhampton and the local area, Dr Mattia Parati is heavily involved with the university laboratories and Olivia regularly engages with marketing students, using SymbioTex as a live case study for final year students.

Since its inception, SymbioTex has won several awards, including the Verizon and Unloc’s Young Entrepreneurs Award and London Tech Week’s Elevating Founders competition. With sustainability at its core, the company aims to disrupt the cycle of plastic waste and lead the way towards a greener future for healthcare and beyond, making their materials available on local store shelves, bringing sustainable solutions into everyday life.

Olivia said: “we want to displace as much single use plastic as possible - where our material makes sense - in applications where there's currently zero recyclability such as very small items or items which are contaminated with food such as coffee capsules. Additionally in the medical sector whereby they can't use recycled plastics to produce the product and they can't recycle the plastic after the product has been used.”

The innovation has already attracted major attention. SymbioTex recently signed an exclusive supply agreement with Abingdon Health PLC., a leading diagnostics manufacturer, to produce seaweed based housings for lateral flow tests, helping reduce the 20,000 tonnes of plastic waste generated globally by these devices each year.

Looking ahead, SymbioTex plans to expand into other sectors and short-term use applications. Motivated to support regional economic development Olivia is also has long term plans of hiring new talent through creating opportunities through apprenticeships.

Olivia's long term goals draw inspiration from the Black Country’s industrial heritage: “Just as Black Country steel became a global benchmark, I want Wolverhampton to be recognised for pioneering seaweed-based materials and leading the way in green innovation.” With plans to commercialise across multiple sectors, SymbioTex is poised to set a new benchmark for environmentally responsible technology.