On 24 October 2025, the REMEDIES project was represented at the Circular Shift: From Waste to Value – Building the Circular Economy Together event in Bled by the National Institute of Chemistry (NIC). As part of the programme, Dr. Uroš Novak (NIC) presented the REMEDIES project in a session titled “From Coffee to Cosmetics and from Apples to Leather.” In his presentation, the Zero-Waste Seaweed Coatings for Cosmetics results from a citizen-participation workshop conducted at a hotel, showcasing an innovative technology designed to eliminate single-use plastic bottles in the cosmetics hospitality sector. Made from a seaweed-based biopolymer, the coating forms a protective layer around cosmetic products and dissolves when exposed to water, offering a biodegradable, zero-waste alternative to traditional packaging. This technology supports the transition toward plastic-free and circular product design in the cosmetics, hospitality, and travel sectors, where small plastic containers are widely used. It directly contributes to the REMEDIES mission of preventing plastic pollution and promoting sustainable, market-ready innovations.
To bring the innovation closer to the audience, the NIC team prepared a demonstration booth where participants could test and take home zero-waste cosmetic samples. This interactive display highlighted the practicality and potential of seaweed-based coatings as biodegradable, circular alternatives to conventional plastic packaging.
This presentation in Bled demonstrated how innovative materials and circular product design can significantly reduce waste generation in high-consumption sectors such as cosmetics and hospitality – contributing to the mission of preventing plastic pollution and supporting the transition towards a plastic-free future in line with REMEDIES’ goals.
