The Shift
The Old Way: Plastic That Lasts 500 Years
Single-use plastic packaging is designed for disposability but lasts centuries. Even recyclable plastics mostly end up in landfills or oceans.
- 8 million tonnes of plastic enter oceans annually
- Single-use packaging used for minutes, persists for centuries
- Flexible packaging has almost no recycling value
- Microplastics now found in human blood
The New Way: Packaging That Returns to Nature
Notpla makes packaging from seaweed and plants that biodegrades in 4-6 weeks—or can be eaten. Ooho bubbles, coated takeaway boxes, and flexible films.
- Ooho: edible seaweed membrane sachets for liquids
- Seaweed-coated takeaway boxes replace plastic linings
- Home compostable in 4-6 weeks
- Works with existing packaging machinery
The Story
Founded in 2014 by Rodrigo Garcia Gonzalez and Pierre-Yves Paslier, who met at Imperial College London and RCA.
Notpla makes packaging from seaweed and plants that biodegrades in weeks or can be eaten.
Proof Points
At events like the London Marathon
Pieces of seaweed packaging for major UK venues
Or eat it immediately
2022 winner for Build a Waste-Free World
Deep Dive
Innovation
Notpla uses spherification (same technique as egg yolk membranes) to create edible packaging. For takeaway boxes, they extract seaweed compounds for grease-proof coatings.
Circular Model
Seaweed is arguably the most sustainable material on Earth—grows in oceans without freshwater, fertilizer, or land, and sequesters CO2. The business sells B2B to food service companies.
Community Impact
High-profile deployments at London Marathon, Roland Garros, and Premier League stadiums normalize seaweed packaging. 75M piece contract with Levy UK brings it to mainstream venues.
Business Results
Raised $13M+ in funding. Earthshot Prize provided capital and visibility. Expanding beyond single-use into flexible films and dissolvable sachets.
Key Takeaway
The best sustainable solutions don't fight nature—they copy it. Fruit has been packaging itself for millions of years.
Founder Pathway
R&D and initial production setup ~$1-3M; customer acquisition is main ongoing cost
Best for materials science founders with patience for B2B food service sales cycles
Food contact regulations; sustainability claims increasingly regulated