Veuve Clicquot Awards Celebrate Women in Sustainability

Two UK founders recognised for climate innovation in shipping and manufacturing

Alisha Fredriksson and Smruti Sriram have been named in the 2026 Veuve Clicquot Bold Woman Awards. Both lead businesses addressing emissions in sectors where change has proved difficult. Fredriksson’s company, Seabound, makes carbon capture equipment for ships. Sriram runs Bags of Ethics, a sustainable packaging manufacturer within Supreme Creations.

The recognition arrives as both shipping and packaging face growing regulatory and commercial pressure to cut emissions and improve supply chain accountability. For UK businesses watching these sectors, the developments offer a snapshot of where climate policy and industrial innovation are starting to meet.

Seabound develops modular carbon capture systems designed to fit existing vessels without major refits. Bags of Ethics produces reusable packaging with ethical sourcing at its core. Both companies operate in areas where compliance costs, tender requirements, and customer expectations are shifting rapidly.

Carbon capture designed to work on ships already at sea

Seabound builds equipment that captures carbon dioxide from ship exhaust before it reaches the atmosphere. The system uses lime-based sorbents to bind CO2 into limestone. Ships carry the captured material in standard 20-foot containers, which are swapped out at port. The limestone is then regenerated on land, separating the carbon for storage or use.

According to the European Patent Office, the system can capture up to 95% of CO2 emissions from a ship’s exhaust. Consequently, operators gain a way to reduce emissions without replacing entire fleets or waiting for zero-emission fuels to become widely available.

The modular design means the equipment can be installed on vessels already in service. Each container functions as both a capture device and a temporary storage system. Therefore, shipowners avoid the capital cost of building new vessels while still addressing emissions targets.

Fredriksson has said the approach cuts capital costs by around 90% compared to other onboard capture methods. Meanwhile, the company separates capture from regeneration, which keeps the onboard equipment simpler and lighter. The sorbent is processed on land, where energy and infrastructure are easier to manage.

Seabound has previously reported securing six letters of intent from major shipowners. The company’s work has been recognised by the European Patent Office as part of its 2025 Young Inventors Prize competition. Notably, the Office highlighted the circular element of the system, where captured carbon can be repurposed rather than simply stored indefinitely.

Maritime transport accounts for nearly 3% of global emissions

Shipping remains one of the hardest sectors to decarbonise. Maritime transport is responsible for nearly 3% of global CO2 emissions, according to the European Patent Office. Furthermore, much of the world’s fleet is already in operation, with vessels that have decades of service life remaining.

Replacing those ships with zero-emission alternatives would require enormous capital investment and infrastructure that does not yet exist at scale. In addition, alternative fuels such as hydrogen or ammonia are still in early stages of commercial deployment. As a result, retrofit solutions have become a focus for regulators and shipowners alike.

For businesses that rely on maritime logistics, this creates both risk and cost pressure. Emissions reporting requirements are expanding. Carbon pricing mechanisms are being introduced in key jurisdictions. Supply chain partners are increasingly asking for emissions data as part of procurement decisions.

Companies that ship goods internationally may soon face higher costs if their logistics providers cannot demonstrate progress on emissions. Therefore, technologies like Seabound’s could affect tender criteria, contract terms, and insurance premiums in the years ahead.

Sustainable packaging under pressure from regulation and brand expectations

Smruti Sriram’s company, Bags of Ethics, has positioned itself as a specialist in ethical and reusable packaging. The business is part of Supreme Creations and describes its mission as normalising reuse through design-led manufacturing. Clients include luxury brands and institutions that have made public commitments to reduce packaging waste.

Packaging is under growing scrutiny from regulators and consumers. Extended producer responsibility rules are expanding across the UK and Europe. Single-use plastics are being restricted in more jurisdictions. Meanwhile, brands are making public commitments to circularity and waste reduction, which puts pressure on their suppliers to deliver traceable, lower-impact alternatives.

Bags of Ethics says it has achieved B Corp certification and other sustainability accolades. The company has been described as the world’s largest manufacturer of ethical packaging. However, the real business significance lies in how these credentials translate into commercial advantage.

For SMEs supplying consumer brands or public sector contracts, packaging is increasingly part of the compliance and procurement conversation. Tender documents now routinely ask for environmental data. Buyers want to know where materials come from, how products are made, and what happens at end of life. Suppliers that cannot answer those questions risk losing contracts.

What this means for UK businesses in supply chains

The recognition of Fredriksson and Sriram reflects a broader shift in how environmental performance is valued. Sustainability is no longer a nice-to-have or a marketing add-on. It is becoming a commercial requirement, particularly for businesses that operate in regulated sectors or supply large organisations.

Shipping emissions affect any business that imports or exports goods. If you rely on international logistics, you may already be asked to report Scope 3 emissions from freight. Carbon capture technologies like Seabound’s could eventually feature in logistics contracts, either as a way to meet your own reporting obligations or as a differentiator when choosing carriers.

Packaging affects businesses across manufacturing, retail, and food sectors. Compliance with extended producer responsibility rules means tracking packaging materials and paying fees based on what you put on the market. In addition, major buyers are starting to require suppliers to use recycled, reusable, or certified sustainable packaging as part of contract terms.

These trends have financial implications. Carbon pricing in shipping will add cost to freight. Packaging regulations bring compliance costs and reporting burdens. However, they also create opportunities for businesses that move early and build sustainability into their operations rather than treating it as a separate workstream.

Why retrofit solutions matter for compliance and cost

Seabound’s retrofit model is significant because it works with existing infrastructure. Many sustainability solutions require businesses to replace equipment, overhaul facilities, or wait for new technologies to become commercially viable. Consequently, adoption is slow and costs are high.

A system that fits into standard shipping containers and can be installed on vessels already at sea removes some of those barriers. Shipowners can start reducing emissions without waiting for fleet replacement cycles. Meanwhile, businesses using those shipping services benefit from lower emissions in their supply chains.

For UK SMEs, this kind of incremental improvement matters. You may not be able to switch to zero-emission logistics overnight. Nevertheless, you can choose logistics partners that are investing in emissions reduction. That choice affects your Scope 3 reporting, your ability to meet net zero commitments, and your competitiveness in tenders that score environmental performance.

Similar logic applies to packaging. Switching to fully circular materials may not be feasible for every product or market. However, choosing suppliers with credible ethical sourcing and take-back schemes can reduce compliance risk and meet buyer expectations without requiring a complete redesign of your packaging.

What makes a business model commercially viable in climate tech

Both Seabound and Bags of Ethics have built their businesses around making environmental responsibility practical and profitable. Fredriksson has described Seabound’s business model as combining hardware sales with a materials subscription. Customers buy or lease the capture equipment, then pay for the sorbent materials and regeneration services on an ongoing basis.

This approach spreads cost over time and aligns the business model with operational budgets rather than requiring large upfront capital investments. For shipowners, it makes carbon capture more accessible. For Seabound, it creates recurring revenue and long-term customer relationships.

Bags of Ethics has similarly focused on making sustainability work within existing commercial frameworks. Luxury brands and public sector buyers are willing to pay for traceable, ethical supply chains, but they still need products that meet quality, delivery, and cost expectations. The company’s growth suggests it has found a way to meet both sets of requirements.

For SMEs, the lesson is that sustainability investments need to deliver commercial value. That might mean lower compliance costs, better access to tenders, stronger customer relationships, or reduced risk from regulatory change. Environmental performance is not an end in itself. It is a means to remain competitive as markets and regulations evolve.

Key points for UK business owners and operators

• Alisha Fredriksson leads Seabound, a London-based company developing carbon capture equipment for ships that can be retrofitted to existing vessels.
• The system captures up to 95% of CO2 emissions from ship exhaust using lime-based sorbents, storing the carbon as limestone in standard shipping containers.
• Maritime transport accounts for nearly 3% of global emissions, and retrofit solutions are becoming commercially important as carbon pricing and reporting requirements expand.
• Smruti Sriram runs Bags of Ethics, which manufactures ethical and reusable packaging for luxury brands and institutions.
• Packaging is under increasing regulatory pressure from extended producer responsibility rules and buyer expectations for traceable, lower-impact materials.
• Both companies have built business models that make environmental performance commercially viable, combining compliance with cost management and customer demand.
• For UK SMEs, sustainability in logistics and packaging is shifting from optional to essential, particularly in public sector tenders and supply chain contracts.

How sustainability affects procurement and tender competitiveness

Public sector procurement in the UK increasingly includes environmental criteria in tender evaluations. PPN 06/21 requires suppliers bidding for central government contracts above £5 million to publish a carbon reduction plan. However, the trend is broader than formal policy. Local authorities, NHS trusts, and other public bodies are adding sustainability questions to lower-value contracts as well.

Private sector buyers are following suit. Major retailers, manufacturers, and logistics companies are setting net zero targets and asking suppliers to report emissions. In addition, some are requiring suppliers to demonstrate progress on reduction, not just measurement. Therefore, businesses that can show credible action on emissions or sustainable sourcing have a competitive advantage.

Technologies like Seabound’s matter because they create options for businesses trying to reduce Scope 3 emissions from logistics. If you report emissions from freight, you need data from your carriers. Carriers that invest in capture technology can offer better emissions performance, which improves your numbers and your tender competitiveness.

Similarly, packaging choices affect how buyers perceive your environmental performance. Using certified sustainable materials, designing for reuse, or partnering with suppliers that have transparent supply chains all strengthen your position in procurement conversations.

The risk for SMEs is falling behind competitors that have already embedded these practices. Sustainability is not a separate project anymore. It is part of how contracts are won and lost.

What SMEs should consider in response to these trends

First, understand your current emissions profile, particularly Scope 3. Freight and packaging are often significant contributors, but many businesses lack detailed data. Knowing where your emissions come from helps you prioritise action and respond to buyer questions with confidence.

Second, review your logistics and packaging suppliers. Ask what they are doing to reduce emissions and improve traceability. Suppliers that can demonstrate credible progress are likely to be better partners as regulations tighten and buyer expectations rise.

Third, consider how sustainability fits into your business development strategy. If you bid for public sector work or supply large organisations, environmental performance is increasingly part of the evaluation criteria. Moreover, being able to articulate your approach clearly can differentiate you from competitors who treat it as an afterthought.

Fourth, look at where incremental improvements are possible without large capital investment. Retrofit solutions, supplier partnerships, and process changes can often deliver meaningful progress at manageable cost. Waiting for perfect solutions or new technologies may leave you exposed to regulatory change or buyer requirements in the meantime.

Finally, track regulatory developments in your sector. Packaging regulations, carbon pricing, and emissions reporting requirements are all evolving. Staying informed helps you plan ahead rather than reacting under pressure when new rules take effect.

Where to find further guidance and regulatory updates

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero publishes guidance on emissions reporting and the UK’s net zero strategy. Their website includes updates on carbon pricing mechanisms and sector-specific decarbonisation plans. You can find resources at gov.uk.

For packaging regulations, the Environment Agency provides information on extended producer responsibility and packaging waste obligations. Visit their website for compliance guidance and reporting tools.

Public sector procurement requirements, including PPN 06/21 on carbon reduction plans, are available through the Cabinet Office. The full policy note and supporting materials can be accessed at gov.uk.

For businesses needing support with carbon reporting, emissions reduction, or ESG compliance, structured guidance can help you meet regulatory requirements and strengthen your position in tenders. In addition, carbon reduction planning services can assist with Scope 3 measurement and supplier engagement strategies.