Seastex

Seastex is a Glasgow materials company that turns mussel byssus, the fibrous "beards" removed from farmed mussels during processing, into a natural fibre material it calls Seawool. The company works from a unit on Blairtummock Road in the east of Glasgow.

After cleaning and drying, the fibres are processed into a lightweight material without synthetic binders. The company says the material is recyclable, biodegradable, and naturally fire retardant. Its first product, an acoustic panel for walls and ceilings, was shown at the London Design Fair in 2023, and the construction and interior design sectors are its main markets. Seastex pays Scottish mussel producers for byssus that would otherwise be discarded.

The business was founded in June 2021 by Sander Nevejans. It later moved its headquarters from London to Glasgow to be closer to its supply chain. Seastex developed prototype processing equipment with Innovate UK grant funding and has been supported by the Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre. Its legal entity is registered in England, while its operating base is in Glasgow.