Key Takeaways:Shellworks has raised $15 million to expand production of its Vivomer material, a biopolymer derived from naturally fermented microbes.Its technology can help major brands transition to sustainable packaging without sacrificing price or product functionality.The fresh funding will support expanding its global production network and accelerate expansion into the US and Europe.Biomaterials company Shellworks raised $15 million in a Series A funding round led by Paris-based impact investment fund Alter Equity.WHO: Shellworks was founded in 2019 by Insiya Jafferjee and Amir Afshar, who met working on their Masters at the Royal College of Art and Imperial College of London. They've combined their manufacturing and design experience to create products with a positive impact on the world, starting with bio-based and compostable plastic. Vivomer is produced by fermenting second-generation feedstocks, such as used cooking oil, with microbes and is designed to function like conventional plastic during use while biodegrading after disposal.Once a product using Shellworks' Vivomer packaging is finished, the packaging can either be reused or placed in a personal compost or industrial compost bin, where it is broken down enzymatically. On average, it takes around a year for a product to break down, in contrast to petroleum-based plastics, which can take up to 500 years to decompose.WHY: The new funding round will support the development of mass-market partnerships, the establishment of global manufacturing capabilities, and the scaling of sustainable materials designed to compete on price.