A Bristol biotech company developing food packaging from seaweed and an ethical bank with its UK headquarters in the city have been recognised as among the best in the world for purpose-driven sustainability and ethical leadership.
Kelpi, which has invented a unique compostable material to replace single-use fossil fuel plastics, was named Start Up of the Year at the Global Good Awards while Triodos Bank topped the Finance Player of the Year category. 
Kelpi, based in the Science Creates incubator in Old Market, also won a Silver for Best Product of the Year.
Founded in 2015, the Global Good Awards reward businesses, NGOs, charities and social enterprises that are leading by example across a range of disciplines from finance to technology and education and to humanitarian work.
The Start Up of the Year Award is aimed at businesses under five years old with a purpose driven approach to innovation and leadership, demonstrating positive social and environmental impact.
The judges congratulated Kelpi for its mission to tackle plastic pollution through the development of biomaterials made from seaweed and other natural and renewable resources that can not only match but even exceed the performance of fossil fuel plastic alternatives.
Kelpi’s material has an excellent long-term water and acid barrier, achieved through sustainable and novel chemical functionalisation.
Applied as a coating to paper, card or other fibre substrates, it is certified recyclable, compostable and marine-safe at end of life.
It is also adaptable to address specific product requirements defined by the firm’s clients, for example to package a range of commercial products, including dry, wet, liquid, acidic and greasy products.
Kelpi, which this summer raised £4.35m to take it material to market. is targeting large fast-moving consumer good firms in the food & drink and home & personal care sectors that have ambitious sustainability targets for their packaging.
It has been developed against a background of a global plastic recycling rate of just 9% and more than 86m tonnes of plastics in our oceans.
At the same time, more than 99% of plastics are currently produced from chemicals derived from oil, natural gas, and coal – all of which are non-renewable resources.
The Finance Player of the Year award recognises companies that have leveraged their financial power – in the form of loans, investments or other financial mechanisms – to affect significant impact, bringing more sustainable initiatives, projects or businesses to life and helping them expand and go to scale.
Triodos Bank was recognised by the judges for its investment in renewable energy projects, pioneering new nature-based investment models and backing of sectors from regenerative agriculture to social housing.
Triodos Bank UK chief executive Bevis Watts said: “We’re honoured to be recognised as Global Good Finance Player of the Year as we continue to champion sustainability within the banking sector.
“This award acknowledges our commitment to driving positive environmental and social change through our finance for progressive companies and organisations.
“We’re particularly pleased to have the judges recognise our pioneering lending work for nature-based investment projects, as this is an area where we see potential to scale our impact.”
Triodos Bank, which has operated in the UK for nearly 30 years, focuses on making money work for positive change and uses customers’ deposits to provide a range of finance and tailored support to organisations which benefit the planet from both an environmental and social perspective.
Its range of services includes current accounts, investments and savings.
Other Global Good Awards winners included Unicef, EY & Microsoft and Octopus Energy. The awards are considered to have one of the most rigorous application processes in the industry and a hugely experienced 40-plus strong judging panel made up of leaders in their fields.
