Levur is reimagining how industries produce oils, offering a sustainable, scalable alternative to palm oil, a resource found in over 50% of supermarket products and responsible for deforestation, biodiversity loss, and significant emissions. 

Using synthetic biology and precision fermentation, they brew palm oil derivatives - similar to brewing beer - to produce oils identified by customers in a controlled environment. This innovative process also allows them to create tailored oil profiles, delivering enhanced functionality for industries like cosmetics, nutraceuticals, and food.

It was founded by Camille Goldstone-Henry and Jada-Lee Gribble, who are passionate biologists and ecologists. The company aims to empower businesses to become part of the solution to environmental impact by providing tools and insights for nature-positive practices. 

On winning the challenge, Camille said: "Winning the KPMG Nature Positive Challenge was a game-changer for us. The funding accelerated the launch of our platform, positioning us as a leader in biodiversity tech and attracting global clients. Partnering with KPMG’s nature and biodiversity experts sharpened our alignment with global nature frameworks, further enhancing our value to international customers."

Inaugural winner Uluu is Based out of Western Australia, and uses sustainably-farmed seaweed combined with fermenting saltwater microbes to produce durable yet biodegradable carbon negative polymers as an alternative to all types of plastics, with applications ranging from packaging to furniture and apparel. 

The company was founded in 2019 by oceanographer Julia Reisser and former BHP strategy and innovation principal Michael Kingsbury. 

“As a young startup with a mission to replace plastics with materials that are good for the world, to win the KPMG Nature Positive Prize is a huge endorsement of our vision,” commented Reisser. “The prize money, and the advisory support from KPMG, will be instrumental in helping us hone our strategy and ensure ULUU delivers the significant environmental and social impacts we believe it can.”