GreenVeil Packaging develops ultra-biodegradable and antimicrobial cling wrap, grocery and garbage bags, resealable zip bags and agricultural products, such as mulch film, tree covers and fruit blister trays. Made from locally sourced materials, GreenVeil’s packaging degrades naturally within weeks to months. It also extends food shelf life and enriches the soil as it breaks down.
Founder and CEO Ali Maleki (PhD Physics — Photonics ’25), a postdoctoral research fellow at uOttawa, says his entrepreneurial journey is driven by a personal passion for cleantech — eco-friendly and biodegradable materials. Back in his home country of Iran, he developed several projects and patents before moving to Canada to do his PhD in physics.
Today, the GreenVeil startup has research and development lab space within uOttawa’s Advanced Research Complex. There, a multidisciplinary team with expertise in biology, advanced polymer materials, chemistry and physics continues to refine the science side of the technology.
“GreenVeil’s UltraBiodegradable packaging is made from a novel composite biopolymer that combines Ontario-sourced minerals with wood byproducts, engineered through advanced chemical interactions,” Ali says. He adds that development took place over several years, and it included extensive antimicrobial analysis.
“While I had been working on the idea for some time, it was really the uOttawa system that gave me the confidence, resources and motivation to take it seriously as a startup.”
Ali Maleki
— CEO of GreenVeil and a postdoctoral research fellow at uOttawa (PhD Physics — Photonics ’25)
“Through the Entrepreneurship Hub and Faculty of Science Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Strategic Partnerships team, I was able to access professional training, mentorship and entrepreneurial programs that made the path forward much clearer. Their support helped me move from concept to incorporation, begin fundraising and position GreenVeil for growth.”
GreenVeil is also supported by a strong team of advisers, including Greg Lane, Candace Tierney and Kyle Briggs, who provide guidance in sales and marketing, intellectual property strategy and commercialization. Greg has recently joined the GreenVeil team, bringing over 30 years of experience in sales, marketing and industry operations. He’ll help shape effective strategies for business development and market entry.
Next steps include securing food-contact regulatory approvals from Health Canada and looking ahead to launch a fundraising round so the company can expand production. In the meantime, GreenVeil is establishing a production space in Kemptville after securing $150,000 in funding from Community Futures Grenville.
Words of advice for students interested in entrepreneurship
“Don’t let hesitation stop you from pursuing your ideas,” says Ali. “The challenge is often not the idea itself but the hesitation and uncertainty about turning it into a business. My advice is treat entrepreneurship as a skill, a combination of courage and persistence. By embracing entrepreneurship, students have the chance to transform knowledge into impact, contribute to the economy and give back to the community that has invested in their education. It’s not an easy journey, but it’s one of the most rewarding.”