There is no doubt that being one of five companies awarded an Earthshot Prize in 2022, with its accompanying £1 million prize money, has played a pivotal role in the development of British startup Notpla, founded by Pierre Paslier and Rodrigo Garcia Gonzalez, who have created an alternative to plastic packaging from seaweed.
Seaweed farmed for its production captures carbon twenty times faster than trees. The packaging itself means less plastic clogging the world’s seas, reducing ocean waste. Meanwhile, farms boost fish population and seaweed farming creates new opportunities for fishing communities.
Notpla is totally natural and entirely biodegradable as well as being edible. It can be used to create a range of packaging products, such as a bubble to hold liquids, a coating for food containers, and a paper for the cosmetic and fashion industry. The technology provides an internal coating for food takeaway boxes to retain moisture and grease in food and maintain the robustness of the packaging. This natural solution replaces traditional plastic coatings and chemical treatments that are otherwise found in traditional food boxes.
Designed to make packaging disappear without a trace – just like a fruit peel – the packaging can be recycled with paper or composted at home in four to six weeks, leaving no harmful toxins or micro-plastics in the environment.
The company recently announced a multi-million-pound contract to introduce Notpla’s seaweed-based, natural food packaging materials in up to 50 sporting and entertainment venues across the UK over the next three years. The new contract will see Levy UK + Ireland, part of Compass Group, using an expected 75 million items of Notpla’s seaweed-based food packaging.
Prince of William, who played a key role in supporting the relationship between Notpla and Levy UK + Ireland, joined representatives of both companies at Kia Oval, which is one of the venues where the boxes will be used. Other major sporting, entertainment and event spaces include The Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Twickenham Stadium, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London’s O2 Arena and Wimbledon’s All England Lawn Tennis Club.
The rise of Notpla’s seaweed-coated food packaging from tens of thousands of units to now producing tens of millions shows a unique and much-needed scale in the production of plastic alternatives. With no notable changes to the packaging’s functionality or usage conditions, visitors and catering staff alike can maintain the convenience of single-use packaging.
Caption:
Samples of containers using Notpla technology
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