Case Study: Partnering for Bio-Based Materials
Charter Next Generation and Sway: Certified Compostable Films Made with Seaweed Biopolymers
by Maggie McDermott
Charter Next Generation (CNG) has partnered with Sway, a pioneering material innovation company, to scale TPSea Flex™ —a seaweed-based, certified compostable flexible film designed for flexible packaging applications across fashion, personal care, food, and beyond.
Following CNG’s equity investment, this collaboration represents a meaningful step forward in scaling bio-based, circular material solutions, reinforcing CNG’s leadership in material science and the company’s commitment to advancing its sustainable solutions portfolio.
The Challenge
Flexible films play a critical role in many industries—protecting products, extending shelf life, and reducing food waste. Yet most conventional films are derived entirely from non-renewable resources and offer limited end-of-life solutions, making them difficult to recycle or compost.
The industry has long sought an alternative that is certified compostable, high-performing, and compatible with existing converting processes. Seaweed, a rapidly renewable ocean resource, offers strong potential to help close this gap. However, bringing seaweed-based biopolymers to commercial scale requires advanced extrusion and deep expertise in film material science. This is where CNG’s innovation and world-class manufacturing proved pivotal.
The Breakthrough Solution
Through the partnership with Sway, CNG leveraged its technical expertise, film engineering, and process innovation to translate Sway’s seaweed-based resin technology into a commercially viable flexible film.
The result, TPSea Flex™, delivers:
- Certified compostability, designed to break down in home and industrial composting environments
- Bio-based content primarily derived from seaweed, a fast-growing and regenerative marine crop
- Strong barrier and mechanical performance, enabling use for diverse applications
- Drop-in compatibility with existing converting and manufacturing lines
For packaging applications, TPSea Flex™ supports brands seeking certified compostable alternatives that maintain product protection, shelf-life performance, and operational compatibility, without requiring changes to existing operations. TPSea Flex™ was developed with evolving sustainability regulations in mind, supporting customers as they navigate shifting end-of-life expectations within global markets.
By combining Sway’s breakthrough biopolymer science with CNG’s proven manufacturing platform, TPSea Flex™ bridges the gap between material innovation and market readiness, demonstrating that compostable, bio-based materials can perform at scale.
Material Impact
The partnership represents a significant advancement toward a certified compostable, circular materials future. It aligns with CNG’s purpose of Enhancing Lives for a Better World and demonstrates the company’s commitment to investing in partnerships that accelerate environmental progress while meeting real-world performance demands.
Turning Innovation Into Impact
- Commercialization: Successfully brought one of the world’s first compostable seaweed-based flexible films to market—proving that CNG’s advanced manufacturing expertise can scale certified compostable, ocean-sourced materials to deliver real-world performance across packaging and other applications.
- Industry Recognition: TPSea Flex™ earned recognition among sustainability and design communities, including national honors from TIME’s Best Inventions of the Year and an Honorable Mention in the Innovation in Bioplastics Award.
- Thought Leadership: Sway CEO and Co-Founder, Julia Marsh, highlighted TPSea Flex™ and the materials transition during her recent TEDxBoston Planet Action talk, emphasizing how breakthrough materials can move from innovation to impact through strong technical manufacturing partners like CNG.
This collaboration reinforces CNG’s position as an innovation accelerator, turning breakthrough materials into market-ready solutions through deep technical expertise, strategic partnerships, and purpose-driven collaboration.
“By partnering with Charter Next Generation, Sway is evolving TPSea Flex™ from a breakthrough material into a market-ready solution—bringing the world’s first compostable, seaweed-based flexible film into the mainstream.” – Julia Marsh, CEO & Co-Founder, Sway
“Our collaboration with Sway demonstrates how advanced manufacturing and material science can accelerate sustainable innovation—delivering solutions that are both commercially viable and certified compostable.” – Kathy Bolhous, Chairman & CEO, Charter Next Generation
Looking Ahead
CNG and Sway continue to advance new film structures, applications, and end-of-life pathways for seaweed-based materials—paving the way for certified compostable packaging systems that work in harmony with nature.
As brands set ambitious sustainability goals, innovations like TPSea Flex™ represent the future of flexible materials: certified compostable, primarily derived from bio-based materials, and ready for the mainstream. CNG and Sway are making the material difference.
