MOBI – takes seaweed from sea to ceiling

The construction industry has a significant climate footprint. To phase out fossil-based materials, more sustainable alternatives are needed. In the Nordic project MOBI –Moldable Ocean Biomass for Industry – Axfoundation is working with processors, designers, and material developers to explore whether seaweed from our oceans could be one of them. The goal is to demonstrate how this local and underutilized biomass can reduce climate impact without competing for valuable land – while also contributing to a more circular and bio-based economy in the Nordic region.

MOBI, Moldable Ocean Biomass will explore if seaweed could become a sustainable alternative to fossil-based building materials. Photo: Nordic SeaFarm

The Issue

Today, the construction industry’s climate footprint is major. In 2021, the building and construction sector accounted for over 34% of the world’s energy demand and around 37% of energy- and process-related carbon dioxide emissions. Greenhouse gas emissions stem from energy-intensive processes involved in producing materials such as cement and steel, as well as from the operation of buildings and infrastructure. The sector’s high energy consumption drives climate change, while production also places significant pressure on finite resources. By prioritizing more sustainable construction practices, the industry can help protect natural resources and promote healthier environments for generations to come.

This project brings together top expertise from multiple sectors and is a great example of how new collaborations are forming to accelerate the transition. It’s not about creating visions, but about practically testing what’s feasible and scalable.

– Amelie Silfverstolpe, Project Manager for Future Materials at Axfoundation.

Our Solution

The MOBI project aims to demonstrate that it is possible to create building components from farmed sugar kelp. Together, we are developing and testing new methods for molding prototypes that could replace conventional construction materials. The goal is to contribute to a circular, bio-based economy while also helping to build a Nordic value chain for seaweed.

Project goals

The MOBI project aimto demonstrate how seaweed-based materials can become a sustainable and practical alternative for the construction industry – material that can be used in real products and projects. The four main deliverables are:

Produce two prototypes made from micro fibrillated seaweed, based on potential applications within architecture and the construction environment.
Create visualizations showing how the prototypes could be integrated into buildings.
Conduct initial tests of the material’s technical properties along with a preliminary life cycle analysis for molded prototypes of micro fibrillated seaweed – compared with similar products made from steel, aluminum, plastic, and hardwood.
Present an early business model for architects, investors, and industry partners, illustrating how seaweed-based materials could offer a better and more viable alternative for the construction sector.

Benefits of marine biomass

Reduced greenhouse gas emissions: Ocean biomass has a lower climate impact than fossil fuels, and often lower than some land-based biomass, since it does not involve deforestation.
Relieves pressure on land ecosystems: By moving material production to the sea, land ecosystems are spared from exploitation.
New blue industries: Ocean-based biomass creates opportunities for new jobs in shipping, aquaculture, energy production, and industry.
Economic potential: The European seaweed market is projected to reach 9 billions euro within a decade, with up to 115,000 jobs created in Europe by 2030.

The project goal of MOBI is to pave the way for scaling up and creating a systemic shift. Photo: Nordic SeaFarm

Our Work

To reduce the climate footprint of the construction industry, Axfoundation focuses on finding new solutions – where local, underutilized, and bio-based materials replace fossil-based ones. In this project, we are exploring seaweed as a raw material together with partners across the entire value chain: from processors to material developers and industrial designers. Axfoundation’s role is to connect the right expertise, drive innovation, and test how seaweed can become a sustainable material choice for the buildings of tomorrow.

Partners

The project MOBI was initiated by Manatee Biomaterials together with Axfoundation and is carried out in collaboration with material developers from Arkio Industries and industrial designers at Snøhetta. The raw materials are supplied by Nordic Seafarm. The project runs from April through December 2025 and is co-funded by Nordic Innovation.