Every year, tons upon tons of plastic waste end up on the streets of our cities, in rural areas, and into our oceans. This has caused a severe strain on the environment, inflicting irrevocable harm to human health and wildlife. In response, an England-based startup named Notpla took inspiration from nature’s bounty to develop a sustainable alternative to plastic packaging.
The beginning of the end of plastic as we know it
When Notpla (short for “Not plastic”, of course) was established in London by Pierre Paslier and Rodrigo Garcia Gonzalez in 2014, they were determined to develop an eco-friendly replacement for single-use plastic packaging. In doing so, they hoped to combat and potentially eliminate plastic pollution and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
When Notpla looked to nature for a viable solution, it was not long before they were struck by inspiration. Fruit peels, they observed, are edible and act as natural packaging in order to protect their contents. Most importantly, these peels are biodegradable, meaning they can decompose on their own accord without harming the environment.
Pasilier recalled: “If we could design packaging a bit more like fruits, we [knew we] would have something really interesting, to create packaging that can be literally edible.”
A greener tomorrow starts with a single seaweed
To bring such an innovative product into fruition, Notpla turned to none other than seaweed. Abundant, renewable, and biodegradable like fruit peels, seaweed is able to capture and store carbon dioxide 23 times faster than trees—a stark contrast to plastic packaging that emits greenhouse gasses long after it is discarded.
Utilizing the seaweed’s algal properties, Notpla created their most famous product: Ooho, an edible “bubble” that is capable of holding water and other liquids. Consumers can either poke a hole in the Ooho and drink from it, or they can pop the entire thing in their mouths without the risk of choking. If left unconsumed, the bubble will biodegrade within four to six weeks.
To test the viability of their product, Notpla partnered with Lucozade Sport in 2018 to hand out Oohos filled with their trademark sports drinks and gels to participants in the Richmond Marathon and the Tough Mudder event. The following year, the two companies teamed up once again for the London Marathon, whereby they handed out 36,000 Lucozade-filled bubbles to runners. All in all, the product was well received, garnering attention and praise for its innovative strategy in addressing plastic waste.
Notpla has come far from its humble beginnings, and they owe it all to Mother Nature
Since then, Notpla has collaborated with multiple sports brands, companies, and businesses to provide sustainable packaging solutions. They have also branched out into the food service industry. Food oil pipettes, rigid cutlery, and dry spice sachets made completely from seaweed and plants are just some of the eco-friendly products they now offer.
Food containers are also part of their lineup; unlike regular containers that have a petroleum-based coating, their product features a 100% seaweed coating. When the consumer is finished using the container, they can compost it, and it will break down naturally, enriching the soil in the process.
Businesses that use Notpla’s packaging can rest assured knowing that it is in compliance with the Single-Use Plastics Directive’s assurance standards, making it exempt from bans and taxes on disposable food packaging.
While the war on plastic pollution is far from over, Notpla remains front and center of this movement. By harnessing the power of nature, they are doing their part to eradicate plastic usage and protect our planet’s future. Here’s hoping that their efforts continue to bear fruit.