Seacork Studio Awarded $389,000 from CleanBC Plastics Action Fund to Reduce Plastic Waste with Acoustic Panels Made from Seaweed

Vancouver, B.C., 2025-06-12 -- Seacork Studio Inc., a Vancouver-based climate tech company, is proud to announce it has been awarded $389,000 in funding from the CleanBC Plastics Act Fund's Circular Economy Innovation stream. This funding, paired with NorthX Climate Tech’s recent $350,000 non-dilutive investment, will enable Seacork to complete the final stages of product development and launch its first large-scale pilot project, demonstrating the commercial viability of its seaweed-based acoustic panels.

Seacork Studio develops 100% circular, carbon-storing acoustic panels from seaweed, offering a sustainable alternative to conventional plastic-based acoustic materials. These high-performance panels are used on ceilings and walls in commercial and institutional buildings like offices, classrooms, restaurants, retail, and event spaces to enhance sound absorption and create quieter environments. Seacork’s panels help address the challenge with traditional acoustic panels, which are often manufactured from waste-intensive materials like polyester foam, PET fibers, and polystyrene, which end up in BC's landfills after just 5-15 years of use. 

In contrast, Seacork's panels are designed with circularity at their core. By using seaweed, Seacork’s panels can be reprocessed into new products or composted. Further, by using locally-harvested seaweed in British Columbia, and avoiding carbon-intensive materials, the panels have drastically less embodied carbon. An independent life cycle analysis by Carbon Wise Consulting found that installing Seacork panels in a typical 10-storey office building would sequester 60 tonnes of CO2 equivalent while generating no waste. Comparatively, installing conventional panels emits 300 tonnes of CO2 equivalent, while generating 700 cubic meters of waste at end of life.

Seacork's innovative approach addresses multiple environmental challenges simultaneously. The company sources seaweed that is either invasive to BC waters or industrially spent material from other seaweed processes, providing financial incentives for sustainable marine ecosystem management while creating valuable products. Seacork Studio's project directly addresses the BC Plastics Act Fund goals by phasing out waste-intensive acoustic panels and establishing a replicable circular bio-economy model.

"The CleanBC Plastics Action Fund's support will enable us to prove our manufacturing scalability and showcase our panels in real-world applications, paving the way for broader market adoption." said Annie Dahan, Founder and CEO of Seacork Studio. "We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Province of British Columbia and Alacrity Canada through the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy.”

The funding will support several key project activities over the next 13 months, including:

• Developing scalable, non-toxic methods to eliminate seaweed odor for commercial applications

• Completing required building code fire tests and accelerated aging tests to demonstrate a 10+ year lifespan

• Establishing a sustainable seaweed supply chain, securing one tonne of dried seaweed from Pacific Northwest sources

• Manufacturing 1,000-5,000 square feet of panels for pilot projects

• Installing panels in large-scale demonstrator projects and gathering user feedback

About Seacork Studio Inc.: Seacork Studio is a Vancouver-based startup creating innovative, low-carbon acoustic panels and building materials made from seaweed. Committed to sustainability and climate resilience, Seacork Studio provides the building industry with high-performance, environmentally responsible solutions that contribute to healthier spaces and a healthier planet. 

About the CleanBC Plastics Action Fund: The CleanBC Plastics Action Fund supports projects that advance British Columbia's transition to a circular economy by reducing plastic waste, promoting innovation, and demonstrating scalable solutions for plastic waste reduction and circular economy development.