London-based company Notpla is revolutionizing packaging using seaweed, an eco-friendly alternative to plastic.
Stephen Armstrong reports Wired.
Briefly:
- Notpla, led by Pierre Paslier, uses seaweed to create biodegradable packaging for various products, including drinks and fast food.
- This innovative material grows quickly without the need for fresh water, land or fertiliser, and helps reduce carbon and ocean acidity.
- Notpla's journey began with edible beverage containers for marathons, leading to sustainable solutions for takeout food containers and other products.
Main quote:
“We wanted to create something that looked more like fruit; a packaging you can feel coming from something being picked from a tree rather than off the production line.”
— Pierre Paslier, CEO of Notpla
Why this matters:
Notpla's seaweed-based packaging represents a big step in the fight against plastic pollution, which is crucial to the preservation of marine ecosystems and overall environmental health. This innovation is in line with global efforts to reduce waste and protect our planet, offering a practical and scalable solution to a pressing environmental challenge.
Be sure to read: Food packaging can harm human health.