Founded in the Netherlands, Zeefier is an innovative company developing textile dyes made from seaweed. By replacing petrol‑based chemistry with a renewable ocean resource, Zeefier offers an alternative that enables textiles to remain biodegradable. Zeefier is expanding its solution for dye houses worldwide with help from the EU's BlueInvest program.

Petrol-based colourants: a hidden polluter

Petrol‑based colourants are everywhere, from the clothes we wear to the fabrics we use in our homes. Yet few people are aware of their environmental impact. 

Derived from fossil fuels, these synthetic dyes are environmentally persistent, can be harmful and can be difficult to reconcile with a circular economy. Once applied, they prevent otherwise natural materials from being fully biodegradable or recycled, quietly locking pollution into the value chain.

“When you look at a label, it tells you the fabric - cotton, wool, linen - but it never tells you where the colour comes from,” explains Anne Boermans, co‑founder of Zeefier. “I can guarantee you that in almost all cases, it’s petrol‑based.” 

Replacing this 'hidden polluter' by a sustainable alternative is precisely the challenge that Zeefier set out to address.

Innovation that fits the industry

Zeefier has been conducting research and development for almost a decade and was officially established in 2020. The company currently offers a growing palette of natural colours, including browns, greens, reds and greys. The textiles coloured with Zeefier’s algae‑based dyes remain 100% biodegradable, supporting a  truly circular economy.

The idea for Zeefier emerged from a combination of design thinking and environmental awareness. People commonly used natural dyes derived from land-based plants or insects before synthetic chemistry was developed.

Zeefier takes a different approach by turning to the sea. “There is so much seaweed, and it is used mostly for food,” says Boermans. “We realised it could also play an important role in the non‑food sector.”

Beyond the raw material itself, Zeefier’s innovation lies in ability to fit existing industrial processes. The company has developed its dyes as a plug‑and‑play solution that meets existing dye‑house standards and can be integrated into current industrial processes worldwide. 

This significantly lowers the barrier for adoption, which is a critical factor in an industry traditionally hesitant to change established workflows. While Zeefier dyes are mostly used in the premium segment, they are also compatible with mainstream textile applications.

BlueInvest in action

Zeefier participated in BlueInvest Investment Readiness Assistance in 2025, where tailored coaching helped the team prepare for fundraising and structure its investment strategy. 

“The programme really made a difference for us,” says Boermans. “We were really lucky with our mentor, Flo Janin. She’s not only very motivating, but she really helped us structure our entire investment round. It also helped that there was always fresh input and someone challenging our thinking in a constructive way.”

Now raising capital to scale its production and market reach, Zeefier exemplifies how blue innovation can tackle overlooked environmental challenges while enabling systemic change. 

By making the invisible impact of colour visible and solvable, Zeefier is proving that the future of sustainable textiles may well be written in shades of seaweed.

About BlueInvest

BlueInvest is the EU's innovation and investment platform for the blue economy, offering business coaching, fundraising support, and networking opportunities for ocean technology companies.

Interested individuals can register with the BlueInvest Community to explore programme features and opportunities or contact lu-blueinvest@pwc.lu. 

More information

Website: Zeefier

Social media: Zeefier on Linkedin