Compostable seaweed-based compositions, and associated systems and methods

A pellet configured to be processed to produce a thermoplastic flexible film, the pellet comprising:

• a phycocolloid comprising unprocessed seaweed;
• and
• a biodegradable polymer comprising thermoplastic starch (TPS), polycaprolactone (PCL), polylactic acid (PLA), polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), polyesteramide (PEA), polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT), polybutylene succinate (PBS), and/or polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH),
• wherein the pellet is compostable and comprises a protein content of 0.1-15 wt%.

A system for producing a seaweed-based composition, the system comprising:

• an extruder comprising a primary input and an extrusion barrel downstream of the primary input;
• a source of a phycocolloid and an additive;
• and
• a source of a polymer, wherein:
• the extruder is configured to (i) receive the phycocolloid and the additive at the extrusion barrel, (ii) receive the polymer at the primary input, and (iii) produce a seaweed-based composition configured to be processed to produce a flexible film,
• the phycocolloid comprises 10-50 wt% of the seaweed-based composition,
• the polymer comprises 10-80 wt% of the seaweed-based composition, and
• the additive comprises no more than 50 wt% of the seaweed-based composition.

A method for producing a seaweed-based composition, the method comprising:

• receiving, at an extruder, a phycocolloid and an additive, wherein:
• the phycocolloid comprises agar, alginate, carrageenan, and/or unprocessed seaweed, and
• the additive comprises a slip agent, an anti-block additive, an antioxidant, glycerin, sorbitol, water, and/or citrate;
• and
• mixing, at the extruder, the phycocolloid, the additive, and a polymer to produce a seaweed-based composition, wherein:
• the polymer comprises thermoplastic starch (TPS), polycaprolactone (PCL), polylactic acid (PLA), polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), polyesteramide (PEA), polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT), polybutylene succinate (PBS), and/or polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH), and
• the seaweed-based composition comprises (i) 10-50 wt% of the phycocolloid, (ii) 10-80 wt% of the polymer, and (iii) 10-50 wt% of the additive.