The shampoo sitting in your shower, the toothpaste on your sink, and the makeup products on your vanity may have a surprisingly common ingredient: seaweed. According to the National Library of Medicine, anticancer effects have been attributed to certain types of seaweed for colon and breast cancer. Studies conducted in the Journal of Food Biochemistry have assessed seaweed’s antioxidant and antibacterial benefits and determined which type of seaweed has the most health benefits. These health benefits make seaweed an ideal ingredient for the cosmetics industry, elevating seaweed from the ocean floor to your beauty routine.
Sprague’s Role in the Seaweed Supply Chain
Now that we’ve established the prevalence of seaweed in your everyday products, let’s explore Sprague’s role in this process. At Sprague’s Terminal in Searsport, Maine, we proudly store, sort, and palletize large quantities of food-grade seaweed destined for processing. Currently, our facility allocates an impressive 60,000 square feet of warehouse space to this incredible marine resource.
Once the seaweed is received, we ensure it’s properly stored before it’s shipped out to a specialized processing facility. At this facility, the seaweed undergoes a meticulous cleaning, shredding, drying, packaging, and labeling process. This ensures that the seaweed is ready for cosmetic companies and food companies to integrate into their products.
A Multi-Use Material
The seaweed we handle is more than just an ingredient; it’s a testament to nature’s versatility. Many consumers may not realize that seaweed, with its many benefits, is part of their daily routines. From enhancing skincare to promoting healthier hair, seaweed is a powerful addition to the cosmetic industry. Seaweed is also used as a thickening agent in everyday food like artificial maple syrup, chocolate milk, ice cream, and cake mix. Sprague is proud to play a pivotal role in its journey from the sea to your shelf.
As we continue to innovate and support sustainable practices, we remain committed to facilitating the growth of this unique product and others in our terminal. Keep an eye on the beauty products you use and certain foods you consume —there’s a good chance seaweed or a derivative of seaweed is one of its innovative ingredients.
More Than Just Seaweed
While seaweed is a standout product at our Searsport terminal, it’s just one part of our diverse operations. In addition to seaweed, the Searsport team handles baled paper pulp, road salt, onshore windmill components, and super sack cement, showing the versatility of our Materials Handling capability. Our terminal also offers services from ship bunkering to rail car switching, making us a hub for various logistical needs in the region. If you’re interested in checking out more details about our Materials Handling offerings in Searsport, you can go to our Terminals page and click Searsport, Maine for more information.
With our Mack Point Offshore Wind proposal, Searsport could be undergoing extensive infrastructure improvements in the future to support Maine’s renewable energy goals. To get more information on our Mack Point Floating Ocean Wind Terminal, check out our Mack Point page.
Click here to learn more about Sprague’s materials handling services.
