SeaSpark: Less litter, more glitter
2026-09-11
Less litter, more glitter
How SeaSpark is using seaweed to rethink conventional glitter
Glitter is designed to attract attention. Unfortunately, it also has a habit of sticking around long after the party is over. SeaSpark wants to change that.
The young Dutch company is developing plastic free glitter made largely from seaweed, creating something that can sparkle brightly during use, but does not need to remain in the environment for years afterwards.
For co-founders @Karlijn Besse and @Xu Ben Zhang, it brings some welcome colour to the world of sustainability.
“We have both worked in sustainability for quite a long time, and we noticed that sustainable products are often very plain looking,” says Zhang. “So it is really refreshing to bring something so colourful and joyful to this field.”
From a love of glitter to a new material
The story started with Besse, who has been a glitter enthusiast for as long as Zhang can remember.
Around two years ago, Besse joined a programme at BlueCity in Rotterdam that allowed participants to take an idea into the lab and spend three months exploring whether it could actually work. Her question was simple: could you make glitter from seaweed?
After extensive research and testing, the answer came. An initial seaweed glitter was successfully produced, giving the pair a reason to take the idea further. SeaSpark was formally established as a company in 2026.
Both founders bring a strong sustainability background. They met around ten years ago while studying Industrial Ecology, a field focused on improving the sustainability of industrial systems. Besse also brings experience in architecture and design, while Zhang has spent the past five years working within the international seaweed and kelp sector.
That combination brought together material knowledge, design and a shared interest in the ocean.
Glitter that is allowed to disappear
The basic philosophy behind SeaSpark is straightforward. Glitter is fun, but it is generally used for a very short period. The material itself should reflect that.
“We want to make plastic free glitter from seaweed in the most natural way that’s possible,” Zhang explains. “Glitter is really enjoyable, but after you have used it, it should also be allowed to disappear easily. We also believe glitter should not be made with harmful materials like toxic dyes or metals”
Conventional glitter is commonly made using plastic or mica, often combined with metallic coatings or other materials to create its reflective appearance. For SeaSpark, this creates an obvious mismatch between how briefly glitter is used, how long some of those materials can persist and the health concerns associated with conventional glitter.
Seaweed offers an interesting alternative. It requires no agricultural land or fresh water to grow and, more importantly for SeaSpark, has material properties that make it suitable for creating a biodegradable alternative to plastic.
Starting where glitter matters most
SeaSpark is currently between laboratory and pilot scale. The product is not yet being sold commercially, but the team is deciding where its first market opportunities lie and how production should be scaled accordingly.
Festivals are an obvious starting point. Loose glitter is applied directly to the skin, used for a few hours and often washed away afterwards. Also craft products and applications for children are another important area.
For Zhang, these are precisely the situations where replacing plastic makes the most sense.
The regulatory landscape is also changing. European restrictions on intentionally added microplastics are gradually reducing the use of conventional loose plastic glitter. SeaSpark therefore sees an opportunity for genuinely plastic free alternatives.
At the same time, the founders are wary of products marketed as biodegradable while still containing small amounts of plastic.
“We really want to be completely plastic free,” says Zhang.
Consumer response so far gives the team confidence that there is demand. Whenever SeaSpark reaches a wider audience, one question tends to appear repeatedly: where can I buy it?
The challenge is making the sustainable option accessible. SeaSpark expects its product to be premium over conventional glitter and price-competitive with products glitters marketed as biodegradable or bio.
“We want it to be an easy choice for consumers,” Zhang says.
From festivals to cosmetics and packaging
Loose festival and craft glitter may be the first target, but the ambitions go much further.
Cosmetics are firmly on the roadmap, including products such as nail polish and other formulations containing glitter. These applications require additional technical development because the material must remain stable when combined with liquids and other ingredients.
The team is also exploring opportunities within packaging. Sustainable packaging does not have to look plain, Zhang argues. There is room for materials that are both environmentally responsible and visually appealing.
SeaSpark is therefore interested in working with companies developing packaging materials, natural colourants and other seaweed-baseded materials. The founders are also open to collaborations with brands that want to incorporate sustainable sparkle into existing products.
The ambition is sizeable. Within five years, SeaSpark wants to be operating at meaningful scale across Europe and replacing a substantial share of conventional plastic glitter in its target markets.
Interested? Learn more via their website or reach out to @Karlijn Besse and @Xu Ben Zhang.
