Norwegian Startup Creates Sustainable Furniture Foam from Seaweed

In 1919, Nils Halvorsen Norheim established the first automated flatbread factory in Norway. A century later, his great-great-granddaughter, Celine Sandberg, is innovating in a different field – manufacturing sustainable furniture foam.

Traditional polyurethane foam rubber, which is widely used in sofas and chairs, contributes to 105 million metric tons of CO2 emissions annually. Sandberg founded Agoprene, a Scandinavian startup, with the aim of providing a more sustainable alternative to these petrochemical-based foams.

Although Sandberg did not initially have any engineering knowledge, her studies at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology ignited her interest in biomaterial technology. Through her research, she discovered the potential of biomass, particularly seaweed, as a replacement for petroleum-based materials.

Driven by her vision, Sandberg and Agoprene’s research chemist began conducting experiments in a small kitchen, blending various seaweed-based materials and subjecting them to a process that resembled baking. Numerous trial and error attempts led to the creation of around 800 foam samples.

To fund her venture, Sandberg secured a modest budget from the Research Council of Norway and acquired second-hand equipment while seeking biomass samples from suppliers. Enduring financial challenges, she ultimately obtained support from the BioInnovation Institute’s Venture Lab acceleration program, which facilitated pilot production and scalability testing.

Agoprene’s focus is currently on producing foam for furniture, but Sandberg is open to exploring other applications. Various industries, including skiing, soundproofing, and shoemaking, have already shown interest in sustainable foam solutions.

Despite the industry’s projected growth, Sandberg aims to foster a community of startups working towards sustainable alternatives in Scandinavia and beyond. Rather than seeking global dominance, her objective is to inspire others to join the effort to address the environmental issues caused by petrochemical-based materials.

Source: The ‘Green’ Future of Furniture Is a Sofa Stuffed With Seaweed