Fighting Plastic Pollution with Seaweed

At just 26, Tashini Vithanage is dedicated to tackling one of the world’s most pressing environmental challenges—plastic pollution. As the founder of Teshvo, a company she launched in 2023 after winning a competition for biodegradable solutions, Tashini is at the forefront of developing seaweed-based biodegradable packaging. With a degree in biotechnology from the University of Northumbria, UK, she specializes in processing micro and macroalgae, transforming them into innovative products that can replace harmful plastics.

Tashini’s passion for environmental sustainability led her to leave her job in June 2024 to fully commit to Teshvo. She now leads a small team of 3-4 research assistants focused on developing a biodegradable thin film from seaweed, a resource that is abundant yet underutilized in Sri Lanka. Her mission is to make a significant dent in the 8.3 billion tonnes of plastic dumped into oceans globally, particularly targeting thin films with low recycling rates.

Although Teshvo has not yet generated revenue, Tashini anticipates her first sales by the end of the year. Her proudest achievement so far has been securing seed capital from John Keells Holdings (JKH), which has propelled her vision forward. In the short term, she aims to establish Teshvo as a leader in biotech research in Sri Lanka, with long-term aspirations of making a global impact on environmental sustainability.