Key Points
- Seaweed fibres deliver high absorbency with a natural gelling effect, staying soft, low-lint and hypoallergenic while avoiding vaginal dryness.
- The Kelpon tampon is microbiome-friendly certified by MyMicrobiome and has passed toxicology tests addressing risks such as TSS.
- Scale strategy prioritises values-aligned suppliers and transparent, ethical sourcing; growth follows the “Vyld Premises” rather than volume at any cost.
- Brand mission tackles stigma with inclusive language (“menstruators”), reframing periods as natural and linking menstrual health to ocean health.
- Long-term “Algaeverse” vision: seaweed-based absorbents across product lines, enabling regenerative aquaculture, lower waste, and climate benefits without land, fertilisers or freshwater.
Full interview with Vyld
What role do the unique properties of seaweed - such as its absorbency and anti-inflammatory qualities - play in the functionality of your tampons?
Seaweed fibers offer benefits that set them apart from traditional materials like cotton or viscose. Their superior absorbency ensures that menstrual fluid is optimally absorbed and retained without drying out the vaginal mucosa. The natural gelling effect of seaweed fibers, activated upon contact with liquid, enhances comfort during insertion and removal, eliminating the need for plastic wrappers commonly used in conventional products for ease of use. Additionally, the fibers are incredibly soft, resistant to linting, and ensure gentle application, making them ideal for sensitive areas.
Seaweed has a long history in medical applications, valued for its anti-inflammatory properties and hypoallergenic nature. This is particularly important for a product that remains in one of the body’s most sensitive areas for a significant amount of time, ensuring minimal risk of irritation or rashes.
At Vyld, we approach tampon design with the user in mind, prioritizing performance and health over traditional economic considerations. By focusing on what a tampon truly needs to do, absorb menstrual fluid effectively while maintaining comfort and product safety, we’ve found that seaweed fibers are unmatched in their ability to meet these needs sustainably.
What is your strategy for scaling production without compromising on sustainability or ethical practices?
Our strategy for scaling production prioritizes sustainable and ethical growth over expansion at all costs. We are committed to building long-term relationships with suppliers who share our values, ensuring a transparent and responsible supply chain. Guided by our core principles, the "Vyld Premises," we aim to grow with intention, inspired by the sustainable and meaningful development of seaweed. This approach ensures that every step of our scaling process remains true to our mission of sustainability and ethical integrity.
Menstrual health is often a stigmatized topic. How do Vyld’s products and campaigns aim to break this stigma?
At Vyld, we aim to break menstrual stigma by reshaping how society views periods, treating them as the completely natural process they are. Our products are made from seaweed, one of nature’s most remarkable resources, fostering a deeper connection between menstruation and the environment. This reconnection is central to our vision, as the same systems that stigmatize menstruators often exploit the planet.
We also challenge outdated narratives, rejecting terms like "hygienic products" because periods don’t need sanitizing, they are natural. Instead, we prioritize inclusivity, using terms like "menstruators" and "period products" to acknowledge that not all women menstruate and not everyone who menstruates identifies as a woman.
Through innovative products and inclusive language, Vyld reframes menstruation as normal and essential, promoting greater acceptance while connecting people, periods, and the planet.
Could you explain how your regenerative financing model aligns with your broader vision of a circular economy?
Our regenerative financing model is deeply aligned with our broader vision of a circular economy and reflects the values of feminist business principles, such as those articulated by Jennifer Armbrust (“A business can be a prototype of the world you want to live in”). At our core, we aim to embody the change we wish to see in the world, demonstrating that businesses can function as prototypes of a sustainable and equitable future.
Just as we ensure that the raw materials in our products are regenerative and environmentally harmonious, we apply the same principles to our financial structure. Conventional profit-driven financing often perpetuates extractive systems that undermine sustainability. By contrast, our model seeks to "hack" capitalism, showcasing alternative financing structures that prioritize collaboration, inclusivity, and long-term planetary health.
This approach reinforces the idea that businesses are not separate from the planet but integral parts of a broader ecosystem. By challenging traditional financial norms and advocating for regenerative practices, we aim to inspire systemic change, aligning economic activities with circular principles, where resources, relationships, and value are continuously nurtured and renewed. This holistic perspective ensures that our business supports not just our immediate goals but also the global shift toward a sustainable, interconnected economy.
What is your long-term vision for the Algaeverse, and how do you imagine it impacting both individual lives and global ecosystems?
Our long-term vision for the Algaeverse is to create a world where seaweed becomes a regenerative resource integrated into everyday absorbent products, from panty liners to diapers to pads. We envision a future where seaweed farming and its applications not only support global ecosystems but also transform individual lives.
On a societal level, the Algaeverse aims to promote sustainable aqua permaculture, particularly in coastal regions. This can drive economic growth, create jobs, and improve livelihoods, especially for women+, who often play a significant role in seaweed farming. By replacing conventional single-use products with biodegradable alternatives, we also strive to significantly reduce period waste.
On a global scale, the Algaeverse would help restore marine ecosystems. Seaweed cultivation is a powerful tool for carbon sequestration, reducing greenhouse gases, and mitigating climate change. It stabilizes marine ecosystems by providing habitats for fish, reducing ocean acidity, and binding CO₂ and nitrogen. Importantly, seaweed farming requires no freshwater, pesticides, fertilizers, or land, making it one of the most sustainable resources available.
What standards or certifications (e.g., ISO, FDA) are you pursuing to validate the safety and performance of Kelpons for medical-grade and consumer use?
The Kelpon is the first tampon worldwide to receive microbiome-friendly certification, meaning it does not disrupt the delicate balance of the vaginal microbiome. This certification was awarded by MyMicrobiome after rigorous testing, confirming that the Kelpon respects the natural diversity and health of this sensitive area. Maintaining a balanced microbiome is crucial, as imbalances can lead to irritation or infections, such as yeast overgrowth.
In addition to microbiome certification, the Kelpon has passed extensive toxicological testing, ensuring it is free of harmful substances and poses no health risks, for instance, in relation to Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS).
How do you see seaweed-based products inspiring a broader shift toward regenerative materials across multiple industries in the next decade?
Seaweed-based products have enormous potential to drive a major shift toward regenerative materials across industries in the next decade. They’re not just renewable and fast-growing, they’re also incredibly versatile, making them ideal for a wide range of applications.
In the food sector, seaweed is already making waves, from plant-based proteins to sustainable packaging. But the real excitement lies in non-food applications, think our Kelpons, biodegradable shoes, and even living building facades. Seaweed offers so much: it’s strong, flexible, biodegradable, and aids in carbon sequestration, all while requiring no land or freshwater to grow.
There are other exciting biomaterials, like mycelium, but what sets seaweed apart is its versatility and scalability. It’s used in textiles, cosmetics, construction, and more. Plus, it can be maximized across industries, first grown for food, then repurposed for non-food applications.
For us, it’s about being trailblazers, not just developing products but proving that biomaterials can work, and work well. We want to inspire others to see that sustainable alternatives aren’t compromises; they’re innovative, effective, and capable of real impact.
And the best part? Seaweed isn’t just providing sustainable alternatives, it’s helping us rethink entire systems, fostering circular and regenerative practices. Whether in shoes, tampons, or architecture, seaweed is showing us how to innovate for the planet without sacrificing functionality.
We’re only scratching the surface of what seaweed can do, and the next decade promises to be a game-changer.
