OUR MISSION: Transforming mussel economics

through byssus recycling and high-value market applications.

  • Seastex creates new revenue streams from byssus waste, supporting mussel farmers and reducing disposal costs. By establishing regional production hubs, we generate skilled green jobs, strengthen local economies, and embed coastal communities within a high-value, circular industrial ecosystem.

  • Our acoustic solutions reduce noise pollution, improving comfort, focus and mental well-being in built environments. At the same time, our cosmetic powders replace petrochemical and plant-based ingredients, lowering chemical exposure, pesticide use and the widespread loss of pollinators, enabling healthier, cleaner formulations for everyday use.

  • We transform byssus into 100% renewable, recyclable and biodegradable products. Our low-energy processes reduce reliance on fossil-based materials, avoid landfill and incineration pathways, and contribute to measurable CO₂ reductions, supporting climate, circularity and zero-pollution goals.

 
 
 

TEAM

SANDER NEVEJANS

Founder & CEO

Sander began his entrepreneurial journey in April 2021. He saw the untapped potential of byssus and set out to turn it into a viable product. With an electromechanical engineering and interior design background, Sander has +15 years of experience as a metal fabricator in Belgium and the UK. He has 9 years of experience as an interior, product and industrial designer for companies such as Ito Masaru Design Projects in Tokyo and B3 Designers, TurnerBates, and WATG/Wimberly Interiors in London.

MICHEL VANHOONACKER

Head of Business Strategy

Michel studied economics in Belgium, and marketing in Bristol and has over 20 years of experience in industrial and office real estate, international business, and accounting in the UK. His day-to-day responsibilities include cashflow follow-up, payroll, legal and property search. He has been involved in helping companies such as Meditech Health Automation Ltd and UZE Ltd set up in the UK and has access to a broad network of businesses and suppliers.

EMILIO CUEVAS

Advisor - Innovate UK Business Growth

Emilio holds an MSc in Entrepreneurship from UCL and a Law degree. While originally from Mexico, where he worked as a corporate lawyer in Banking & Finance and Capital Markets at Holland & Knight and was part of the founding team of a law firm. Emilio now supports startups on investment readiness, managing innovation and international expansion as Ecosystem Innovation & Growth Specialist at Innovate UK Business Growth through UCL Innovation & Enterprise.

 
 

 Value Propositions

 

  • We help mussel farmers and coastal economies generate new, stable income streams by turning byssus waste into high-value biomaterials, unlike traditional waste disposal or low-value biomass uses, we create long-term industrial demand through a scalable, circular materials platform.

  • We help architects, designers and developers create healthier, low-carbon spaces by providing circular, zero-VOC acoustic materials from marine waste, unlike PET felts, foams and mineral wool, we deliver naturally flame-retardant, self-binding solutions without synthetic binders or toxic additives.

  • We help cosmetic formulators and ingredient companies replace microplastics, petrochemical and plant-based powders by providing biodegradable, marine-derived protein powders, unlike conventional fillers and pigments, we deliver multifunctional performance with traceable, ocean-based origin - while also avoiding the hidden ecological costs of land-based crop production, such as monocultures, pesticide use, and the widespread loss of pollinators and other beneficial insects.

  • We help textile recyclers and industrial partners process difficult, contaminated fibre streams by providing advanced processing and fibre-opening technologies, unlike conventional recycling systems, we handle sticky, biological and complex materials at industrial scale.

 

 

OUR PRINCIPLES

  • We convert underutilised marine by-products into high-performance materials, creating new industrial value chains from existing biological resources.

  • We generate new income streams for mussel farmers and create skilled jobs in coastal regions, strengthening local economies and supporting long-term resilience.

  • We prioritise low-carbon, zero-VOC and non-toxic solutions, ensuring our materials contribute to climate goals, zero pollution, and responsible resource use.

  • We harness the inherent properties of byssus - such as self-binding and natural flame resistance - reducing the need for synthetic chemicals and energy-intensive processes.

  • We transform aquaculture waste into fully recyclable and biodegradable materials, eliminating the concept of waste and embedding life-cycle thinking into every product.

  • We design materials that improve how spaces feel and function - enhancing acoustics, indoor air quality, and the emotional connection between people, materials and place.

  • We connect farmers, engineers, designers, scientists and communities into a shared value chain - ensuring that innovation benefits a broad and diverse group of stakeholders.

  • We build platforms, not single products - enabling impact across multiple industries including construction, cosmetics and textile recycling.

  • We balance deep-tech innovation with responsible scaling, protecting core technologies while enabling global deployment through partnerships and licensing.

 
 
 

AS part of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation community

we keep byssus in circulation, thereby eliminating its environmental footprint.
Our materials are 100% renewable, recyclable and biodegradable.

Click here for more on our circular business model.