Keel Labs, the maker of  Kelsun fibers, a seaweed-based, plastic-free material, has received the RISE 2025 Innovation Award. Kelsun polymers are made from seaweed polymers with the help of material science. This has created a new class of fibers for nonwovens offering extreme softness and absorbency that respond to regulatory pressures to eliminate plastic and reduce chemical additives.

Initially founded as a way to tackle textile waste in the fashion industry, Kelsun is now being offered as a drop in solution for nonwovens applications to combine performance with sustainability for next-generation consumer and industrial products.

Kelsun was one of three finalists for the RISE Innovation Award. The others included EsterCycle, for a process to recycle mixed polymer materials, and Rockline Industries, for a fetanyl detection wipe.