With their start-up Vyld, Ines Schiller and Melanie Schichan have developed the world's first tampon made from seaweed, the ‘Tangpon’. After positive tests with customers in 2023, the algae tampon has recently been approved and started being used in various sanitary facilities in Germany.

"Tangpons" in offices and at events

According to Vyld, the biodegradable tampon is now also convincing those who provide such hygiene products - for example in offices, fitness studios and at major events.

The fibres for the tampon are obtained from an extract of dried algae in an environmentally friendly process, explains Vyld. The algae fibres are naturally white, do not need to be bleached and are therefore also free of harmful substances.

Safety certified by external laboratories

Health safety, freedom from harmful substances and microbiome-friendliness have been confirmed and certified by external laboratories, according to Vyld. ‘Product safety is our top priority - so it was clear that we would test the "Tangpon" far beyond the basic legal requirements,’ emphasises Stefanie Malchow, R&D Lead Scientist at Vyld.

Vyld was founded in 2021 by Ines Schiller in Berlin and is a ‘responsibly owned’ company. Therefore, the start-up is not owned by an investor or the founder, but instead relies on the Future Profit Partnership Agreement (FPPA). This innovative financing instrument is geared towards self-determined and non-profit-orientated action and therefore long-term sustainability - also economically. The team also relies on funding from the federal government and the EU.

Pad with algae core in development

With the use of their algae tampons in various public facilities and at events, the founding duo have taken a further step towards realising their vision of an ‘Algaeverse’ - a universe of sustainable algae products. Vyld's second menstrual product, a compostable sanitary pad with an algae core called ‘Vyndel’, is already being developed.

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