A Venice-based start-up says it has developed a seaweed-derived additive that can make materials fire- and water-repellent, offering manufacturers an alternative to PFAS chemicals linked to risks for human health and ecosystems.
Algae Scope said it turns residual seaweed biomass into a bio-based powder supplied to textile finishing companies, which use it in coatings for a range of fabric, according to a statement published on Tuesday by the EU’s Blue Economy Observatory and the European Commission.
The company’s founder, Natasha Yamamura, said the project was shaped by PFAS pollution in Italy’s Veneto region, which the statement described as the site of one of Europe’s largest PFAS contamination incidents, with concentrations in some areas reported to be more than 1,000 times above international safety limits.
PFAS — a group of long-lasting synthetic chemicals used in many everyday products — can build up in the body over time and have been linked to health concerns including thyroid dysfunction and possible effects on fertility.
Funding and plans to scale up
Yamamura, who moved from Japan to Venice and previously worked in the petrochemical industry, developed the seaweed-based approach after seeing the effects of PFAS contamination locally, the Commission informed.
She said PFAS is used in around 50% of clothing and home textiles, often in quantities too small to require labelling.
In 2025, Algae Scope received coaching through the BlueInvest programme to improve its investor pitch and expand its network.
The company later won the Nature-Positive Production Systems category at a pitching opportunity during EU Green Week 2026, which led to new industry connections and media coverage.
Algae Scope said it has raised about €330,000 in grants and is seeking a lead investor for €400,000 as part of a €1.2 million funding round to pay for equipment and staff needed to move from small-batch output to industrial-scale production.
