🔒Made in Maine: A Portland startup is developing twine with a twist

Viable Gear, a Portland-based startup launched in 2021 to help rid the world of single-use plastics, is gearing up to bring its first product to market — a seaweed-based agricultural twine called SeaTwine. Designed as an eco-friendly alternative to petroleum-based plastic trellising and crop twine, SeaTwine is engineered to offer durability, water resistance and handling performance. “In terms of durability, our material performs on par with conventional plastic during use,” Katie Weiler, the company’s founder and CEO, told Mainebiz. “It is hydrophobic, meaning it resists water absorption and degradation in wet conditions. This sets it apart from natural fiber alternatives like hemp, jute and sisal, which can weaken or rot over the course of a growing season.” SeaTwine also maintains strength and performance even in challenging outdoor environments, she noted.

Reducing plastic use

Weiler was recognized on the Mainebiz 40 Under 40 list in 2022. At the time, she mentioned her longstanding goal to reduce single-use plastics — an effort that led her to start Viable Gear. Most of the research and development and early prototypes were done in Maine, and eventually Weiler hopes to move production here. Weiler said that pre-sales of SeaTwine are “going great,” with the official launch targeted for May. While the initial focus is on vegetables and fruit, “developing a heavier-duty baling twine and a hop twine are next — essentially by increasing the gauge and thickness of the existing SeaTwine,” she explained.

Seaweed sourcing

Viable Gear is working with a biorefinery in California to help source seaweed that is sustainably harvested and processed from countries including South Africa and Panama. “We would love to be using Maine and/or U.S. seaweeds,” Weiler said. “The industry is making steps to have that become a possibility, which is really exciting, and we continue to support those efforts.”

Distribution plans

Including Weiler, Viable Gear is staffed by three full-time employees, with plans to hire contract marketing and sales support over the next few months. Weiler said the company is initially targeting vegetable and fruit farmers with direct-to-consumer sales via its online platform. “Our next phase will be to start selling with distributors like farming and gardening supply stores to get SeaTwine on their shelves,” she said.