Mushroom Packaging has a narrow lead over Notpla for algae- or mushroom-based plastic alternatives for packaging. Grown.bio is also recommended for custom-shaped mycelium protective packaging, particularly for smaller and medium businesses.
If you're looking for a supplier that can replace conventional plastic packaging with materials made from algae or mushrooms, there are several promising companies to investigate. The best fit depends on whether you need protective shipping inserts, food packaging, flexible film, or rigid containers.
Two material categories are particularly worth exploring:
Mushroom-based packaging: Mycelium, the root-like network of fungi, grows around agricultural waste to create molded protective packaging, often as an alternative to expanded polystyrene (Styrofoam).
Algae-based packaging: Seaweed and other algae-derived materials can be used to develop films, coatings, sachets, and other packaging formats designed to reduce reliance on conventional plastics.
Suppliers I would shortlist
1. Mushroom Packaging — Best for molded protective packaging
(Mushrooms)
Uses mycelium and agricultural byproducts to grow custom-molded packaging that can replace Styrofoam and petroleum-based protective foam. Its material is designed to be home-compostable.
Develops seaweed-based materials for flexible packaging, including polybags and films. Its TPSea Flex film combines seaweed, plant-based ingredients and compostable polymers; it is therefore not yet entirely bio-based.
Best for: apparel bags, e-commerce mailers, personal care and consumer products.
Offers takeaway containers with seaweed-based coatings, plus newer food-to-go formats with seaweed-based transparent windows. These products target plastic linings and windows commonly used in food packaging.
Best for: takeout containers, foodservice, sandwich boxes, trays and grease-resistant packaging.
Mushroom Packaging (Ecovative's brand / Mushroom Packaging Official Site ): The pioneer of mycelium technology. They license and provide custom-molded, zero-plastic protective packaging, corner blocks, and coolers that completely decompose in roughly 45 days.[](https://mushroompackaging.com/)
The Packaging Tree (The Packaging Tree ): Offers custom-shaped, heavy-duty mycelium-based shock-absorbent packaging as an eco-friendly replacement for expanded polystyrene (styrofoam).
Tycoon Packaging (Tycoon Packaging ): Provides custom-designed structural mycelium packaging solutions for various commercial goods.
Sway (Sway ): Based in California, they specialize in thin, high-performance, home-compostable seaweed films engineered to seamlessly replace traditional plastic polybags and pouches.[](https://tocco.earth/article/8-companies-seaweed-packaging)
( ): Develops proprietary seaweed-based pellets (SeaF and ) optimized for extrusion, injection molding, and blown-film applications like wrapping and trays.[]()
If you can share what type of product you are packaging (e.g., apparel, electronics, cosmetics, or food) and your target volume , I can help you narrow down which supplier matches your application best.
If you're sourcing sustainable packaging made from algae, seaweed, or fungi (mycelium), there are several specialist suppliers worth contacting. The market includes commercially available packaging, custom-molded protective inserts, seaweed-coated food containers, and newer biomaterials that may require licensing or pilot projects.
I'd start with suppliers that already serve business customers, then compare minimum order quantities, sample availability, manufacturing capacity, and certifications.
1. Suppliers to contact first
Algae and seaweed-based packaging
Notpla — UK
(Commercial products)
Makes seaweed-coated paper food containers, takeaway packaging, and other plastic alternatives. Its SeaView range combines a seaweed coating with a transparent seaweed-based window. Business customers can request samples and explore its catalogue.
Best for: foodservice, takeaway, catering and food-to-go packaging.
– A New Earth Project](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/E5sxfgjCWJMDEWzq1kB49-nvaVjoqYnfxbCU9W-dveTDKrrKVY4FJm3q3TJWccKEpeqaeyoWJNADN9Kx-XZF7dXSgCFgOmKATsH90D2icssVhr74WsccUTZqDvZzy4nw2BvLtIGIL8Oc1gaj7FwPVKMahVQjcOea4i_ANZDMQekp2-q73jpeNPkkU8QQI8Lm?purpose=fullsize)
Sway — USA
Develops seaweed-based flexible packaging, including compostable mailers and film formats. Small orders may be available through its store, while higher-volume and custom orders can go through distribution partners.
Best for: e-commerce, apparel, personal care and flexible packaging.
Develops seaweed-based resins and products, including its Blue Carbon Straw. Its seaweed resin technology is available for licensing, making it particularly relevant if you manufacture packaging or want a material partner.
Best for: straws, bioplastic applications and material licensing.
These three have distinct sourcing models: finished packaging from Notpla, flexible packaging through Sway, and products or licensed resin technology through LOLIWARE. Their published product availability differs, so confirm current commercial terms directly.
More algae-material suppliers for custom manufacturing
B'ZEOS — Switzerland / Spain
Supplies seaweed-based pellets for protective films, stretch films, pouches, wrapping films, trays and blisters. Some applications are pilot-stage, so confirm readiness for your intended volume.
Works with packaging manufacturers and brands on seaweed-based coatings, pellets and other packaging materials. Particularly useful for companies seeking to adapt existing production processes.
Mycelium is the thread-like network of fungi. Grown around agricultural byproducts and dried, it can form protective, molded packaging as an alternative to expanded polystyrene foam.
Mushroom Packaging — USA
Offers custom-designed protective packaging with engineering, mold design and prototyping support. A strong starting point if you need packaging shaped around a particular product.
Best for: electronics, consumer goods, fragile products and protective shipping inserts.
Manufactures molded mycelium packaging using agricultural byproducts. Its focus on industrial-scale production makes it worth contacting for repeat orders and replacement of foam packaging.
Best for: high-volume protective packaging and European supply chains.
Mushroom Packaging, Magical Mushroom Company, Grown.bio and BioFab are identified by Ecovative's packaging network as suppliers or regional licensees. Confirm regional availability, lead times and current product ranges directly.
3. Where I'd start, depending on your packaging need
Your requirement
First suppliers to contact
Takeaway containers and foodservice
Notpla
E-commerce mailers and flexible packaging
Sway
Custom inserts replacing polystyrene
Mushroom Packaging
Larger-scale molded protective packaging in Europe
Magical Mushroom Company or Grown.bio
Seaweed resin, film or tray materials for manufacturing
4. What to ask suppliers before ordering
Not every bio-based material is commercially ready for every application. When requesting quotes, ask each supplier for:
Samples and minimum order quantity (MOQ): Can you buy a small batch before committing to production tooling?
Price at scale: Unit pricing at 1,000, 10,000 and 100,000 units, where applicable.
Lead time and production capacity: Especially important for new materials and pilot-stage products.
Performance: Moisture, grease and oxygen barriers; compression strength; cushioning; shelf life; and shipping durability.
Certifications and disposal: Request evidence for home compostability, industrial compostability, recyclability and food-contact compliance as relevant. Biodegradable does not automatically mean compostable in every environment.
Material composition: Ask whether the product is entirely algae- or fungi-based, or includes other polymers, binders, coatings or additives.
Shipping and tooling costs: For international orders, freight, import duties, mold fees and setup costs can materially affect the final unit price.
5. Let’s narrow this to suppliers you can actually buy from
I can turn this into a more targeted sourcing shortlist with supplier contacts, sample options and likely fit. The most important detail is what kind of packaging you need.
What are you sourcing?
Food packaging, cups, trays or takeaway containers
Flexible packaging, bags, films or mailers
Protective inserts, cushioning or molded packaging
Raw biomaterials, resins or pellets for manufacturing
Sourcing sustainable packaging made from algae and fungi has become much more commercially viable. Leading innovators specialize in turning these natural materials into high-performance, home-compostable packaging alternatives.
Algae-Based Packaging Suppliers
Notpla : Famous for their seaweed-based materials that require no freshwater or land to grow. They specialize in flexible films, sachets, coatings for paper boxes, and edible liquid bubbles (Ooho).[](https://www.notpla.com/)
B'ZEOS : Develops seaweed-based pellets (SeaF and SeaT ) utilized for wrapping films, shrink films, pouches, and rigid trays. Their solutions are entirely bio-based and home-compostable.[]()
EcoEnclose : Offers eco-friendly shipping supplies and incorporates alternative material solutions like algae-based inks (using actual algae cells for pigments) alongside traditional paper and recycled options.[](https://www.ecoenclose.com/)
Fungi / Mycelium-Based Packaging Suppliers
Ecovative : The pioneer of mushroom-based materials. They use agricultural waste bound together by mycelium (the root network of fungi) to grow custom protective packaging that replaces traditional expanded polystyrene (EPS/Styrofoam).
Grown.bio : Manufactures MycoComposite™ packaging blocks, corners, and industrial cushion inserts grown from local agricultural waste and mushroom mycelium. It is 100% home-compostable.
S.Lab : Produces sustainable, biodegradable mycelium packaging tailored for cosmetics, electronics, and e-commerce goods as a direct drop-in replacement for plastic foam.
