Informed by science. Powered by seaweed.
A viable alternative to plastic.
The ideal alternative to plastic is water-tight, flexible, durable, and opaque…
And then it goes away.
PhyCo™ is bringing the agriculture industry a plastic alternative that does just that.
For many industries, plastic is here to stay.
But for the sake of the planet, it can't stay long.
Phyco is here to bridge the gap.
Most plastic use isn't consumer-facing.
Plastic is deeply integrated in the systems that bring our food from farm to table.
Canadian farmers use
The Agrifoods industry accounts for
PhyCo is using seaweed to bring compostable, petroleum-free plastic to Canada.
Why seaweed?
Native to Canada.
Canada's coastline is home to a number of native seaweed species. This means that we can produce seaweed by working with the local ecosystem.
Fast-growing.
Some species of seaweed can grow substantially in as little as 3-6 weeks, making seaweed an ideal crop for high production yields.
Low-maintenance.
Seaweeds native to BC are low-maintenance crops, and don't require pesticides or fertilizers.
Sequesters carbon.
Like trees, seaweed captures carbon when it grows. Compared to petroleum-based plastics, seaweed-based plastics have a minimal carbon impact.
Partners
Supported by
Our Team.
Ranah Chavoshi
Co-Founder, CEO
Ranah Chavoshi has 7+ years of experience working as a marine biologist specializing in aquatic toxicology and phycology, the study of seaweed. She also has a wealth of experience in the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion space where she has led multiple initiatives in academia and industry.
Dr. Stacey Goldberg
Co-Founder, CSO
Dr. Goldberg holds her M.Sc. in Biotechnology from Johns Hopkins University and Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences from University of Prince Edward Island. With 25 years of scientific research and management experience and a variety of expertise in biotechnology, biochemistry, marine natural products, and microbiology, Dr. Goldberg is passionate about developing innovative tools and biomaterials to combat plastic pollution, reduce carbon emissions and support a sustainable circular economy.
Bennett Brulé, Aquaculture Operations Manager
Heading the Nova Scotia division of PhyCo, Bennett (He/Him) graduated from Dalhousie University in May 2023 with a BSc in Marine Biology and Sustainability, with a certificate in Aquaculture. His passion for sustainability and changing the status quo turned him to PhyCo, helping create a world where we rely less on traditional plastics.