Plastic is not biodegradable and is one of the biggest contributors to waste and pollution. Every year, 8 million tonnes of plastic are dumped in the oceans and has resulted in a desperate need to change our behavior when it comes to single-use plastic. Meet Notpla – a sustainable material made by a start-up that’s on a mission to make packaging disappear naturally. The innovative seaweed-based material is a biodegradable alternative to single-use plastic that is clogging up our pipes and our planet.
Notpla has created an evolutionary, biodegradable seaweed-based material that can be used to replace plastic cups and condiment sachets with this sustainable packaging solution. It can also be made into thin films or a coating for cardboard to create a wide range of products. “Consumers today are not just aware, but emotionally connected with the issue of plastic pollution. We joined its design engineers and backers to deliver the strategy, name, identity, and brand that would leave people in no doubt about its potential value in the world,” says the team.
Notpla’s products are geared towards cutting down on single-use plastic, giving consumer brands a significant advantage as audiences become more conscious about food packaging. It has been designed to be a simple, bold definition of who they are – not plastic, but a completely new material that is more than just a brand’s clever name.
The edible, biodegradable material is made from plants and brown seaweed – one of nature’s most renewable resources. It can be used directly to replace plastic cups at sporting events, festivals, and private parties, as well as sachets for condiments, and can be made into thin films or a coating for cardboard to create a wide range of products. It is durable and disappears without harming the environment.
Notpla was trialed in 2019 at the London Marathon with Lucozade and London Cocktail Week and since formed a partnership with Just Eat and Unilever to provide more sustainable food packaging, whilst creating a new and exciting experience for customers. Growing up to 1m per day, it doesn’t compete with food crops, doesn’t need fresh water or fertiliser and actively contributes to de-acidifying our oceans.
The products have featured at Virgin Money’s London Marathon and London Cocktail Week and the brand also has a partnership with Just Eat and Unilever. Conventional wisdom dictates that a brand should be defined by what it is, not what it isn’t. But when what it isn’t is one of the world’s biggest problems – plastics – that’s OK. (Particularly when what it is, is seaweed).
The minimal sachets make a big contribution toward cutting down on single-use plastic, giving consumer brands a significant advantage as audiences make more conscious choices about where and what they eat today. Notpla disintegrates naturally in 4-6 weeks – no micro-plastics, no waste for centuries. Unlike PLA, it is home compostable and doesn’t contaminate PET recycling. It is not too good to be true, it is actually true and you can shop the product here.
Designer: Superunion
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