Submitted
2025 Global Climate Challenge

Sargassum Eco Lumber

Team Leader
Raquel de Antonio
We transform invasive Sargassum seaweed and recycled plastics into a high-performance, sustainable alternative to wood. Our material is strong, water-resistant, pest-resistant, rot-proof, and doesn’t warp or crack like traditional wood. It’s also fully recyclable at the end of its life. What sets it apart is that it starts by capturing CO₂, Sargassum absorbs carbon as it grows, and by collecting...
What is the name of your organization?
Sargassum Eco Lumber Corporation
What is the name of your solution?
Sargassum Eco Lumber
Provide a one-line summary or tagline for your solution.
Solving the Sargassum Seaweed and Plastic Crisis Creating Eco Lumber
In what city, town, or region is your solution team headquartered?
Homestead, FL, USA
In what country is your solution team headquartered?
USA
What type of organization is your solution team?
For-profit, including B-Corp or similar models
Film your elevator pitch.
What specific problem are you solving?
We are addressing the escalating environmental, social, and economic crisis caused by massive Sargassum seaweed blooms and plastic waste. Sargassum has become a transatlantic threat, affecting over 30 countries across the Caribbean, West Africa, and the Gulf of Mexico. Once a seasonal phenomenon, it now inundates coastlines year-round, with over 13 million metric tons floating in the Atlantic in some months. When left to decompose, Sargassum releases methane and CO₂, contributing to climate change and emitting hydrogen sulfide, a toxic gas harmful to both human health and marine ecosystems. In places like the Caribbean, this has led to respiratory issues, fish kills, coral damage, and declining tourism revenue. At the same time, over 400 million tons of plastic are produced each year, and most ends up in landfills, oceans, or incinerators, further polluting vulnerable coastal areas. Many communities facing Sargassum influxes also struggle with waste management, unemployment, and lack of access to affordable, sustainable construction materials. These two massive waste streams, Sargassum and plastic are symptomatic of broader systemic challenges tied to climate change, environmental degradation, and unsustainable resource use, all disproportionately affecting coastal and underserved populations.
What is your solution?
We transform invasive Sargassum seaweed and recycled plastics into a high-performance, sustainable alternative to wood. Our material is strong, water-resistant, pest-resistant, rot-proof, and doesn’t warp or crack like traditional wood. It’s also fully recyclable at the end of its life. What sets it apart is that it starts by capturing CO₂, Sargassum absorbs carbon as it grows, and by collecting it before it decomposes, we prevent those emissions from being released into the atmosphere. We collect the Sargassum while it’s still fresh, dry it using our solar-powered thermal dryer, and mechanically blend it with recycled plastics like HDPE and MDPE. This mix is then shaped using our proprietary 3000-ton high-pressure press, which combines compression and injection molding to create consistent, durable panels and parts. The result is a climate-positive material made entirely from waste, with applications in construction, furniture, pallets, and more. Our technology is modular and scalable, and we’ve already built and tested working prototypes.
Who does your solution serve, and in what ways will the solution impact their lives?
Our solution serves coastal communities hit hardest by Sargassum blooms particularly in the Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, and West Africa where residents face health risks, economic losses, and environmental damage. Many of these communities rely on tourism and fishing, both of which are disrupted when beaches are overwhelmed by rotting seaweed. At the same time, they struggle with unemployment, limited waste management infrastructure, and lack of access to affordable, sustainable building materials. We also serve waste pickers, local workers, and small-scale recyclers by creating a new, dignified supply chain that gives value to materials often treated as trash, Sargassum and plastic waste. By turning these into durable building products, we generate green jobs, support local manufacturing, and offer low-cost, climate-friendly alternatives to imported wood or plastic. Over time, this model can support housing initiatives, eco-tourism infrastructure, and disaster-resilient construction, all using materials made locally from environmental hazards. For communities on the frontlines of climate change, this means cleaner beaches, healthier environments, more economic opportunity, and access to sustainable products they can actually afford.
Solution Team:
Raquel de Antonio
Raquel de Antonio