Zeefier

Beyond Green: Creating Colors from Seaweed, Even Orange! Thank you to all the visitors who experienced the vibrant colors of our carpets at Dutch Design Week. Looking back on DDW 2024, we’re incredibly honored to have presented our From Dutch Wool & Seaweed carpets and seaweed-dyed colors to Her Majesty the Queen and Mabel van Oranje This was a true highlight and a wonderful acknowledgment of our commitment to sustainable innovation. Throughout DDW, we were often asked, “But isn’t seaweed only good for making green dye?” We were thrilled to surprise visitors with the full spectrum of our seaweed-based dyes: sandy beige, grey, brown, coral, green, and even a vibrant orange! At the exhibition, we proudly showcased two carpet types: Industrial Carpet: Machine-tufted by Best Wool  merging contemporary craftsmanship with scalable production. Limited Edition Carpet: Designed by Nienke Hoogvliet and tufted by Millenerpoort, creating a unique and exclusive piece. Another common question was, “When can I buy something dyed with your seaweed colors?” These remarkable carpets, dyed sustainably with seaweed from Dutch seaweed farmers, will be available from early 2025. We’re eager to bring this colorful, eco-conscious innovation into homes soon! You can catch a behind-the-scenes look at the process in the short documentary made by Dutch TV channel VPRO de wereld van dutch design Thank you to the fantastic DDW team Wisse Ankersmit, Vincent van Herk, Marsha Simon (she / her), Sanne Heesbeen, Miriam van der Lubbe, and Martijn Paulen for making this year’s DDW unforgettable! Ten years ago, we introduced the idea of seaweed-based dye for textiles at DDW, and now we’ve demonstrated that it’s ready for the market. Sign up for updates on carpet sales at seaweed.eu/carpets, or feel free to DM us! The carpets were crafted using Dutch wool from The Knitwit Stable and in collaboration with a team of inspiring women entrepreneurs. Thanks to everyone involved: Reina Ovinge, Mirte Luijmes, Tais Binnerts, Lisette van Noort, Nienke Hoogvliet, Bianca Zomer, and Anne Boermans. This partnership has left us excited for more! A final thanks to all who shared invaluable advice along the way: Diana van Splunter Math de Weerdt Marta Costa, Nesrien Abu Ghazaleh, PhD, Yvar Monasch, Arosha Brouwer, Ruben Brave, Arthur Tolsma, Marian Spier Marianne van Sasse van Ysselt, Maurice van Es, André Knol, Walewein Lichtenauer, Martin Boer, Afonso Rebelo de Sousa, Elisabete da Costa, Ellen Bergsma, René van Geer Ellen Spithoven Pieter Paumen Remko Triezenberg, and many more. #SeaweedColor #SustainableTextiles #NaturalDyes #EcoInnovation #ColorFromNature #SeaweedDye #TextileDesign #FromDutchBeaches #GreenTextiles #DutchDesign #FemaleEntrepreneurship

Dyed with Dutch Seaweed: From Beach to Beautiful Carpet Our seaweed-dyed carpets are still on display at Dutch Design Week This year, we’ve created something special: carpets dyed with seaweed harvested from Dutch recreational beaches. While we usually source from European seaweed farmers, this edition repurposes seaweed collected by local municipalities, which would otherwise be burned. We’re proud to give this unused resource a new, sustainable purpose. We’ve introduced two unique carpet types: 1. Industrial Carpet: Machine-tufted by Best Wool , showcasing high-quality craftsmanship at scale. 2. Limited Edition Carpet: Designed by Nienke Hoogvliet and tufted by Millenerpoort, available in various sizes, offering a unique custom-made piece. Made with Dutch wool from The Knitwit Stable   A special thank you to Gemeente Rotterdam,  and Gemeente Westland for supporting our use of this untapped seaweed resource. We hope the Netherlands will embrace this sustainable practice on a larger scale, as seen in other EU countries.   This project wouldn’t have been possible without our amazing early supporters. Thank you to Vitas Kersbergen, Daria Nepriakhina, Myron Koster, Duncan Waardenburg, Marloes Arkesteijn, Annette Kabel, Sam Denishin, Anne Offringa, Matthijs Damm, Peter Baselier, Sabine Biesheuvel, Christianne van der Wal, and many more!   We are also grateful to Provincie Zuid-Holland, Provincie Noord-Holland, and partners like Spaak Circular Solutions B.V., Grondstoffen Collectief Nederland, SeaWood Materials, and North Sea Farmers for their support.   Visit us at DDW Microlab until Sunday, and stay tuned for the launch of these carpets in 2025! Photo by David van Dartel Bianca Zomer Anne Boermans Tais Binnerts Francisco Machado Emilia Kotiranta   #DDW2024 #SeaweedDye #Sustainability #DutchWool #WomenInBusiness #TheKnitwitStable #Zeefier #BestWool #Millenerpoort #LocalProduction #EcoFriendly #CircularEconomy #SeaweedFromBeachToFarm

We are excited to announce our collaboration showcased at Dutch Design Week, starting tomorrow at 11 AM, Microlab! Together, The Knitwit Stable and Zeefier represent more than just products; we embody a new vision. This vision reflects the potential of innovation, local resource utilization, and sustainability. Each carpet, crafted from Dutch wool and dyed with seaweed waste, symbolizes the possibilities that arise when these elements converge. Our industrial carpet, “WOOWEE,” is machine-tufted by the Dutch company Best Wool , a leading name since 1982, known for combining traditional craftsmanship with cutting-edge technology and embracing sustainable production methods. For those who appreciate one-of-a-kind creations, we also offer the handmade carpet “WOOSEA,” tufted at the social workshop Millenerpoort, featuring a design by Nienke Hoogvliet. Millenerpoort is renowned for its commitment to social responsibility, providing work opportunities for individuals with barriers to the job market, and producing eco-conscious, high-quality textiles. These integral collaborations demonstrate that locally produced and socially responsible products can fill a high-end niche and are commercially viable, scalable, and fully traceable. Dutch Design Week is open to the public until Sunday, October 27th, 6 PM, in Eindhoven. Join us in celebrating this exciting journey towards a more sustainable future when humans, animals, and oceans come together. Thank you to Reina Ovinge, Bianca Zomer, Nienke Hoogvliet, Math de Weerdt, Maurice van Es, Yvar Monasch, and Diana van Splunter for this fantastic collaboration! Photos by Lisette van Noort & @Hannah Braeken #DutchDesignWeek #Sustainability #Innovation #LocalResources #Collaboration #SocialResponsibility #TheKnitwitStable #Zeefier #WOOSEA #WOOWEE

"From Dutch Wool & Seaweed" The Power of Local, The Impact of Industrial Scale: A Dutch Carpet Made from 100% Wool and 100% Seaweed From October 18th to 27th, we invite you to explore the From Dutch Wool and Seaweed carpet at Dutch Design Week (DDW). This project highlights the innovative collaboration between Zeefier and The Knitwit Stable, two pioneers in sustainable production. By combining locally sourced Dutch wool and seaweed, we have created eco-friendly carpets that challenge traditional practices in the textile industry. Each carpet symbolizes what is possible when innovation, the use of local resources, and sustainability come together. Our partnership showcases the potential of untapped local materials, including seaweed from the North Sea and wool from Dutch Kempen heath sheep. By leveraging side streams and focusing on local production, we aim to provide a scalable industrial solution while maintaining a deep respect for nature, animals, and people. Ten years after the iconic SEA ME project, Nienke Hoogvliet returns to Dutch Design Week with a new high-quality carpet made from Kempen heath sheep wool and dyed with Dutch seaweed. In collaboration with The Knitwit Stable, Nienke emphasizes, “We want to show that change is both necessary and possible.” As Reina Ovinge from The Knitwit Stable adds, “Van Nederlands Wol en Wier symbolizes what is possible when innovation and respect for people, animals, and the ocean come together.” This carpet embodies innovation, craftsmanship, and a profound respect for nature. Visit DDW to see how local resources and large-scale impact can shape the future of textiles! This high-quality carpet brings together the richness of Dutch natural materials, from land to sea. Ladies, it was a pleasure working together: Nienke Hoogvliet, Reina Ovinge, Anne Boermans, Bianca Zomer, Tais Binnerts Lisette van Noort, and Mirte Luijmes The project has been made possible with the support of the Provincie Zuid-Holland Rijksdienst voor Ondernemend Nederland (RVO) Photos by Hannah Braecken #DDW2024 #SustainableDesign #Zeefier #TheKnitwitStable #SeaweedDye #DutchWool #CircularEconomy #EcoFriendly #Innovation #LocalProduction #wolenwier

Inspiring EU Seaweed Event on the Scheveningen Pier! Yesterday, our Zeefier team had the pleasure of attending an incredible event on the pier of Scheveningen, overlooking the sea, the perfect setting for a seaweed-focused gathering. The event kicked off with a warm welcome from Mr Jan van Zanen, Mayor of The Hague, who opened the event. It was the ideal location to explore the future of the seaweed industry. Vincent Doumeizel, Seaweed Ambassador for the UN Global Compact, reminded us of the untapped potential of seaweed, stating, “Seaweed is the greatest untapped resource on the planet.” As a gesture of appreciation, we gifted Vincent our eco-friendly wool scarf, naturally dyed with Dutch brown seaweed, a perfect symbol of our commitment to sustainability and innovation. Maris Stulgis, Policy Officer at the EU Commission (DG MARE), reinforced the event’s message, saying, “A thriving EU seaweed industry could become a flagship and source of inspiration for other industries.” His words captured the spirit of the day, as we discussed the growing impact of seaweed on sustainability and various industries. It was also encouraging to see policymakers present and recognize the potential of seaweed for the future. We saw exciting presentations from Ines Schiller Ⓥ Ayla de Heney on non-food applications, such as Vyld and Notpla. Of course, we also had the chance to showcase our Algavalor project, in collaboration with The Seaweed Company SeaWood Materials Universiteit Gent Spaak Circular Solutions B.V. North Sea Farmers ALGAIA - JRS Group This project focuses on using seaweed by-products after various extractions to create biomaterials and textile dyes, with brown seaweed provided by The Seaweed Company and Algaia, and Ulva from UGent. We sincerely thank the European Union for the opportunity to collaborate through this Interreg project. The sessions were inspiring, and it was great to reconnect with familiar faces while making new contacts. From our spot by the sea, it was clear that this location was the perfect place for such an event. Alexander Ebbing Alwin B. Kool Andreia Rego Anna Trubetskaya Catarina Ricca Deniz Ficicioglu Felix Ghyczy Floor Marsman Haik van Exel Jan Murre Jessica Knoop Julia Wald Kees Boender Klaas Timmermans Marcel Schuttelaar Morgan Ræ Nikolaus Nestle Roos van Vugt - Heeringa Sven Rusticus Anna Ivanko William Varcoe and many others. To top it all off, watching the sunset over the sea with our "seaweed family" was truly magical. A heartfelt thanks to North Sea Farmers for organizing such a fantastic event! Eef Brouwers Aris Molenaar Maite de Medeiros Aranka Kolmas Bram Naves #seaweed #innovation #sustainability #seaweedindustry #northseafarmers #entrepreneurship #biomaterials #circulareconomy #zeefier #textiledye

We are establishing two non food seaweed consortia: The Seaweed Collective (Non-food): This consortium focuses on the collective collection and processing of beach seaweed by municipalities. SeaCrop Solutions (Non Food): This consortium is developing a triple-processing approach for cultivated seaweed, turning it into biostimulants for agriculture, textile colorants, and sustainable building materials. SeaCrop Solutions is pioneering new value chains for seaweed. The Seaweed Collective was at the Festival of the Future this past Thursday! The collective addresses the collection and processing of beach seaweed by coastal municipalities in the Netherlands. It includes key partners like Grondstoffen Collectief Nederland, Spaak Circular Solutions B.V., Holdfast and Stipe, and SeaWood Materials. The Provincie Zuid-Holland organized the #FestivaloftheFuture, where innovators, decision-makers, entrepreneurs, scientists, artists, and officials gathered at the Van Nelle factory in Rotterdam to shape Zuid-Holland's future. The day was a success! A visual guide, created during our first Seaweed Table with municipalities and the collective, sparked conversations. Attendees shared tips for improving the seaweed supply chain, including: - Make CO2 storage visible; - Monitor seaweed wash-ups; - Harvest seaweed before it reaches shore; - Encourage long-term municipal collaboration and product commitment. We were also interviewed by New Business Radio. Listen to the interview from the 5-minute mark here: https://lnkd.in/gxDSwgj9. Interested or have suggestions? We are seeking parties to join the advisory board for the Seaweed Collective. Municipalities and provinces keen on advancing the beach seaweed chain are welcome to participate. Let’s work together to transform seaweed into a valuable resource for a more sustainable Netherlands! Nikos van Aelst Vitas Kersbergen Sam Denishin Marloes Arkesteijn Rijksdienst voor Ondernemend Nederland (RVO) Renewi Elfrieke van Galen Daria Nepriakhina Duncan Waardenburg Annette Kabel Anne Offringa Matthijs Damm Peter Baselier Anke Zwanink Livio Bod Martijn Savenije Nikki Spil Bianca Zomer Marjanne Cuypers-Henderson Eva Dijkstra Aletta Martens North Sea Farmers #FestivalvandeToekomst #Seaweed #NBR #Circular #Innovation #SupplyChainCollaboration #seaweedcollective # seaweednonfood

The (Non) sense of Subsidies   Zeefier was pleased to speak today, at the invitation of Rijksdienst voor Ondernemend Nederland (RVO), about how to make subsidies work for your business at the Women in Energy NL event hosted by KIVI - Koninklijk Instituut van Ingenieurs. During my presentation, I discussed the realities of subsidies and their impact on entrepreneurship. Starting Zeefier in 2020 would not have been possible without the support of several fantastic subsidies. As a female-owned company, we were surprised to learn that only 20% of subsidy applications come from women. That needs to change, as subsidies can truly give your startup the boost it needs. We discussed several benefits of subsidies for innovation, including: • Acceleration of development: Subsidies provide companies with the financial resources to innovate and develop new technologies faster. • Risk reduction: Innovation is often costly and risky; subsidies help reduce companies' financial risk when pursuing new initiatives. On the other hand, there are some downsides to subsidies for innovation, such as: • Administrative burden: The application and reporting process for subsidies can involve a lot of administrative work, which can be time-consuming and resource-intensive. We also shared insights on two specific Rijksdienst voor Ondernemend Nederland (RVO) subsidy projects from Zeefier:   1.       RVO MIT R&D Project: How we utilized this subsidy for an innovative local project and the results will be soon to be seen, details will follow! 2.       RVO TSE project: Our experience with this subsidy supports sustainable innovation and the challenges we faced with writing the application and reporting the project.   Applying for subsidies is always exciting, and implementing the projects is rewarding. However, as a team, we often find the final report stage daunting. It's great that we're now engaging with RVO to explore how we can streamline this process moving forward.   A big thank you to Anouk Creusen for inviting me to speak at the event, the moderator @Marjet Velthuis for expertly guiding the conversation, and my fellow panelists Wilma Eerenstein and José van Koppen for the insightful discussion. Arjanneke Teeuw, do you know what percentage of our WomensBizz club members are using subsidies? Photo: Seaweed re-search book by our creative founder Nienke Hoogvliet

We are proud to collaborate with Ghent University on the #AlgaeValor project, exploring the potential of Ulva as a sustainable textile dye. The project's goal is to deepen our understanding of seaweed growth, particularly the green Ulva species, by investigating its development and biochemical composition. This research from Ghent University aims to enhance fundamental knowledge that can be applied to the commercial cultivation of seaweed. To achieve this, Ulva samples were collected from intertidal zones in France and the Netherlands and brought to the Phycology lab at Ghent University for acclimation and sporulation induction. After successful acclimation, cultures were scaled up, maintained under optimal conditions, and subjected to various experiments. These experiments tested different maturation and sporulation methods, including changes in particle size, temperature, and nutrient medium, as well as the effects of light intensity on the biochemical properties of Ulva. It has been a pleasure to witness the baby Ulva thriving in the lab in Belgium, showing great promise for future innovations. We sincerely thank the European Union for the opportunity to collaborate through this Interreg project alongside our partners The Seaweed Company, SeaWood Materials, North Sea Farmers Seafarmers, and Spaak Circular Solutions B.V. A special thanks to Floriele Gonzaga and Olivier De Clerck for the inspiring tour of your lab, allowing us to witness the journey from baby Ulva to mature Ulva. Seeing the baby Ulva is an experience that will remain a lasting memory for us.

Zeefier was excited to speak at the “SME Start-up Pitch Event CLIB - Cluster Industrielle Biotechnologie” in Düsseldorf! It was inspiring to connect with many like-minded innovators, experts, and investors committed to driving the chemical industry towards defossilization and sustainability. We're also thrilled to share that we are the proud winners of the categories Fanciest Tech, Best Pitch, next to the jury prize! and shared the prize for Product Most Likely to Scale with the great start-up AmphiStar. This recognition reinforces our belief in the potential of our natural seaweed-based dyes to make a significant impact. A huge thank you to Katrin Kriebs Markus Müller, and the team who made this event possible and provided the opportunity to showcase Zeefier's innovations. We were also impressed by the other pitches and the fantastic solutions presented by AmphiStar, Congratulations to B4Plastics for winning the final category—well deserved! , BioconKU Leuven, GSI, Infinite Roots®  jFermi Biotechnology Kft. LABMaiTE GmbH, NovelYeast bv Novobiom PectCof B.V. , and tgo AG During the event, we also discussed our #Algaevalor project, about sidestreams of seaweed, which we are proudly executing with the support of European Union, together with SeaWood Materials North Sea Farmers and Spaak Circular Solutions B.V. It's clear that transitioning to sustainable practices will require not only innovative products but also strong networks and collaboration. Zeefier is excited to be part of this journey and looks forward to what the future holds. Let’s keep the momentum going! Marcel van Berkel Dominik L. Schreiber Erik de Vries Szabolcs Petri Jean-Michel Scheuren Thanks for supporting the event BIO.NRW CLIB - Cluster Industrielle Biotechnologie BIO INVEST and Triple-S. Photo by the talented David van Dartel #Sustainability #Innovation #Collaboration #Zeefier #Algaevalor #Defossilization #ChemicalIndustry #AwardWinning

Launching a program fueled by passion and vision ignited three transformative months of inspiration and profound learning... Therefore we would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Dutch New Narrative Lab for this empowering accelerator program. Ruben Brave thanks for starting this program and believing that diversity and inclusion in the Dutch entrepreneurial landscape are essential for fostering innovation, driving economic growth, and creating a more equitable society. Anahí Páez thanks for putting this great group of entrepreneurs together, you made a fantastic fit. Arosha Brouwer, our lead mentor and role model, thank you for sharing your entrepreneurial journey and network with such openness and honesty; your tips have been incredibly valuable and are keepers. For us at Zeefier inclusion across dimensions such as age, gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality,  and socioeconomic status fosters diverse perspectives, driving innovation and creativity. Additionally, it ensures that everyone feels valued and respected, leading to a more cohesive and productive community. We want to express our gratitude to the entire cohort for the trust and collaborative spirit that made our learning experience so enriching. Together, we've grown and inspired one another. Gaurav Gupta Iris Bloemsma Chong Hu Farzan Najmeddin Kasper Bouwens Virginia Scheele Kasia Pokrop Sobhan Mahmoudi Ming-Faraz Khan Navid Mohamadi, Ph.D. Alfred Van der Klis Hugo Goedhart Khaled Shaaban   Thanks for all the inspiring mentors: Desmond Boateng Haik Pogosian Seun Owolabi Remco Janssen Iffat Rose Gill Maud van Merriënboer Joël Dori Mpanzu Bamenga Peter Zerp Janet Bumpas Menno Weij Thomas Mensink Nesrien Abu Ghazaleh, PhD Thank the panel members for their excellent questions that made us think: Carol Tarr✨Michiel Sujeet Reith✨Farshida Zafar Davide Iannuzzi Kayode Alao   Mpanzu Bamenga for your moving introduction speech about how being in parliament can make a difference. Kayode Alao and Peter Zerp for believing in inclusion from your heart. Freshtable table for the amazing food that kept us healthy, focused, and together. Olha Vivcharivska or the gorgeous photos throughout the program, you made us all shine.   The program was made possible by Social Enterprise NL and Google. 🙏🏼