"Seaweed offering plastic-free alternatives for stadiums and sandwiches, aiming to break away from being a specialized brand"
Freakin' Notpla's taking over, y'all! This badass seaweed-packaging company is gunning for a whopping 1 billion units of single-use plastic displacement by 2030. Ain't nobody gonna be caught snacking on plastic at Beyoncé concerts anymore, thanks to this eco-friendly crew.
What started as some French and Spanish kid-geniuses tinkering in their Imperial College London kitchen has grown into a game-changer. They've replaced more than 21 mill-frickin'-ion units of plastic, and they're just warming up.
To make a real impact on that plastic pollution nightmare, Notpla's going global, rolling out in new venues, and thinking way outside the box (pun intended). We caught up with Lise Honsinger, Notpla's first employee and current Chief Revenue Officer, to get the inside scoop.
Fronds of a seaweed solution
Remember those viral edible water capsules called Ooho? Yeah, that was Notpla back in 2017! They partnered with Lucozade to nix 36k plastic bottles at the London Marathon in 2019, then pivoted their focus to seaweed coatings for food packaging when COVID hit.
Fast forward to 2022, and Notpla was a staple at the UEFA Women's Final at Wembley Stadium, slinging biodegradable goods aplenty. From a measly seven foldable carton board box designs in 2020, they've grown into a catalog of more than 50 different eco-friendly shapes and sizes.
Imagine scooping up your churros, snagging a burger clam-shell, or even sipping your coffee from a compostable cup – all without the guilt trip of contributing to plastic pollution.
There's a purity to Notpla's mission, and it clearly impressed the Earthshot Prize judges when they snatched the win in the 'Build a Waste-free World' category. They ain't here for quick fixes or semi-natural products. No siree! They're “going for it even if it's the hardest thing,” as Honsinger puts it, to ensure their products are truly natural and biodegradable.
Stadiums, offices, museums, oh my!
Notpla's products are now gracing major UK stadiums (Tottenham Hotspurs, Aston Villa, The Aviva, Twickenham, and the ExCel Centre) and beyond (Johan Cruijff Arena in the Netherlands, and even Germany's stadiums, thanks to Levy – part of the Compass Group catering company and Notpla's partner in crime).
They're making the switch as seamless as possible, shaping their products to fit into whatever waste stream the stadium already uses – from composting to recycling or general waste. As Notpla continues to create lasting change, IKEA's just hopped on board by rolling out Notpla's seaweed-based packaging in its new Oxford Street London restaurant.
Ready for a game changer? Notpla's launching its new deli range, complete with plastic-free windows for sneak peeks, to help break into the office catering and museum scenes. The ultimate goal is to make their eco-friendly solution omnipresent – "we don't want to be a niche packaging brand," as Honsinger says.
In the coming years, Notpla plans to provide coatings to board manufacturers rather than just selling packaging products, positioning themselves as an integral player in the industry. And if all goes according to plan, Notpla will become a household name alongside heavy hitters like Tetra Pak or Gore-Tex, reinventing the packaging game one seaweed-based product at a time.
"Everyone will know," Honsinger says, "if I've got a packaging that's Notpla, it's not got plastic, it's not got forever chemicals, it's not gonna give me cancer – because I think the world's woken up to the health consequences of plastics as well."
Notpla is trailblazing a sustainable, biodegradable future, one seaweed-based item at a time. Keep your eyes on these wave-riding eco-warriors as they challenge the plastic industry and turn the tide on pollution.
- Notpla, with its seaweed-based packaging, displaced over 21 million units of plastic and aims to displace another billion units by 2030, transforming the packaging industry.
- Beyond stadiums, Notpla's eco-friendly packaging is now available in offices, museums, and even restaurants, such as IKEA's new Oxford Street London location, signifying a broader shift towards sustainable living.
- Currently, Notpla offers more than 50 different shapes and sizes of biodegradable packaging, allowing consumers to enjoy their food and drink without the guilt of contributing to plastic pollution.
- In the future, Notpla plans to provide coatings to board manufacturers, positioning themselves as a key player in the industry, and becoming as recognizable as established names like Tetra Pak or Gore-Tex, while revolutionizing the packaging game one seaweed-based product at a time.
