SEAWEED PACKAGING CASE STUDIES
How Brands are Switching to Sway
THE PROBLEM
Everyone wants to replace plastic. Yet, it's still everywhere.
160,000 plastic bags are produced every second. That's 5 trillion bags every year, enough to circle the planet 7 times. Only 2% are recycled, while the rest persist forever in landfills, nature, and our bodies. The average American ingests up to 12 shopping bags worth of toxic plastic particles annually (🥴).
Under public scrutiny and growing regulation, brands need viable solutions to help them beat plastic while keeping operations flowing smoothly.
A SOLUTION
Meet Sway
Sway is a team of material scientists, designers, and ocean lovers on a mission to replace plastics of the past with compostable, seaweed-based options. Get to know us!
Founded in 2020 and operating from the San Francisco Bay Area, we've spent years developing a material that can match plastic's durability, flexibility, and lightness. After years of R&D, we've done it.
Our packaging is designed to deliver the same essential performance as plastic, with a radically different impact story.
THE IMPACT
Sway vs. LDPE: What's the difference?
Thin-film plastic bags are typically low density polyethylene (LDPE). Sway material is made from responsibly sourced seaweed, plants, and home compostable polymers — and after use, it breaks down entirely in home and industrial compost.
Seaweed is a superstar ingredient. It's abundant, fast-growing, and requires very few inputs. As it grows, it absorbs excess nutrients, purifies water, and supports thriving marine biodiversity. Seaweed farming also builds employment in coastal communities most vulnerable to rising seas, overfishing, and changing climate conditions.
In this way, every Sway bag is tethered to positive impact beyond just eliminating pollution. Seaweed’s inclusion upholds benefits for climate, ocean health, and coastal communities.
Meet the Sway Innovation Coalition
This crew of leading fashion and outdoor brands were the very first to debut Sway packaging in their global supply chains.
Banana plants, flax, organic cotton, merino wool, natural dyes, ethically sourced leather, cactus, natural rubber, corozo, alpaca wool, coconut. Alex Crane uses these ingredients throughout their clothing line, committing to natural products that are entirely plastic-free — and now, they're venturing into seaweed.
Inspired by all-day surf sessions, road trips, and bonfires on the beach, Faherty is a family-led brand built on the highest quality products, making things better, and always spreading good vibes. In their continuous pursuit to innovate, they have become an innovation partner for Sway's seaweed packaging.
The outdoor gear brand founded in partnership with World Surf Champion John John Florence designs products in harmony with the places we love. Florence offers modern utilitarian equipment for all sport conditions, with a laser focus on performance innovation. This is our second collaboration!
prAna creates durable lifestyle apparel for those who live authentically, love the outdoors, and engage in their communities. Based in Southern California, they prioritize nature-based materials, ethical supply chains, and responsible packaging to protect the environment and empower communities.
How We Measure Success
OPERATIONS
How did Sway bags perform in factories and distribution centers?
SHIPPING
Did the bags protect product in global transit, from warehouse to customer?
CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE
How did customers react to compostable seaweed packaging?
THE BAG
Sway Polybags
• Designed to keep products clean, dry, and damage-free as they travel thousands of miles through warehouses, cargo ships, and distribution centers to reach their final destination
• Made from a mixture of regenerative, renewable, and compostable ingredients — including seaweed!
• Seaweed is a regenerative resource that grows abundantly without land, fresh water, or fertilizers
• Reduces waste and pollution through home and industrial compostability
• Custom branding designed by Sway and printed with Living Ink’s Algae Ink™
• Conversion, customization, and logistics managed by EcoEnclose, a leader in sustainable packaging who is the first retailer, manufacturer, and printer of Sway bags
• Used to package a variety of apparel items, including shorts, shirts, and swimwear
The Results
KEY RESULT #1
Logistics Made Easy
Sway packaging is offered through distributors who manage conversion, customization, and fulfillment. Their expertise (and strongheld belief in novel materials) made logistics a breeze for every brand who tries Sway.
Alex Crane is scaling 100% of their polybag demand to Sway Polybags in 2026 through EcoEnclose.
"Packaging always presented a huge problem in Alex Crane’s journey to rid plastic from our supply chain. It's always felt like there were no real solutions or viable partners on the market. It wasn't until working with Sway and EcoEnclose that we saw a light at the end of the tunnel, and a real potential to change the packaging industry for good."
— Alex Crane team
KEY RESULT #2
Operations As Usual
Brands reported that Sway bags made minimal to no disruption to their fulfillment and packing operations. Some reported that Sway Polybags solve for paper’s low tensile strength and tearing issues, withstanding packing and shipping throughout various stages of fulfillment process.
“The bags arrived from the factory in good condition. No tears, puncture, damage, material degradation, or impact from moisture or weather."
— Faherty distribution center
"Sway Polybags were user-friendly for factories accustomed to working with conventional plastics. There were no issues stacking or packing, and product arrived to customers without issue."
— Florence team
KEY OUTCOME #3
Happy Customers
Brands noted how fondly Sway packaging is received by end users. Marketing the package on PDP pages increased purchase conversions, and 100% of surveyed customers preferred the Sway Polybag over plastic.
"It felt AMAZING. The package felt incredibly durable, yet soft and protective. Very surprised about how nice the bag was."
— Alex Crane customer
"This is one of the coolest things we've ever done. Everyone I've shown, from friends to people in the industry, have been so stoked on it."
— John John Florence, Founder & 3x World Surf Champion
KEY OUTCOME #4
Industry Leadership
Seaweed-based packaging offers the opportunity for brand differentiation and values alignment.
“Where most brands think of packaging as trash, we are reframing packaging as an innovation initiative.”
— Florence team
“This partnership goes beyond packaging. It's about supporting an entire ecosystem of positive change.”
— Faherty team
“We're hopeful Sway will push the packaging industry forward with bold solutions and vision for a more regenerative future.”
— prAna team
“Sway packaging is a gamechanger. Their Polybags are meeting performance expectations, they enhance our customer’s experience, and have an amazing impact story.”
- LISA DIEGEL, DIRECTOR OF SUSTAINABILITY & IMPACT
Dive Deeper
Browse more case studies to learn how brands across fashion, outdoor gear, personal care, home goods, and beyond are riding the seaweed packaging wave!
Sway packaging is available through leading packaging distributors
Ready to explore Sway for your brand? Our partners EcoEnclose and Atlantic Packaging are ready to guide you through every step of logistics, ensuring our materials work perfectly in your operations.
