Edible plastic

Notpla – so called Not Plastic – is using engineering to fight our plastics pollution problem. 

Notpla is the name of both a material and a company that aims to significantly reduce plastic waste with a plastic-like material that can naturally biodegrade in weeks.

Brown seaweed grows up to 60 metres tall, creating underwater forests. 

Growing up to 1m per day, it doesn’t compete with food crops for land.

It also doesn’t need fresh water or fertiliser and actively contributes to de-acidifying our oceans.

A team of designers, chemists, engineers, and entrepreneurs are behind the seaweed-based material.

One of Notpla’s products is the Ooho, an edible and biodegradable packaging used for beverages and sauces. 

Ideal for on-the-go consumption, Oohos can replace plastic cups and bottles at festivals and sporting events. 

It was trialled for removing single-use plastics from the Virgin Money London Marathon.

Producing plastic is harmful because it comes from petroleum, a non-renewable source, and even recycling can be tricky. 

It’s hard to break plastic down, and when broken down creates harmful micro-plastics – which can now be found everywhere, from the seabed to our bloodstream. 

Notpla’s engineers are always looking to improve the process and design new solutions.

As well as edible capsules, they are making compostable takeaway boxes lined with Notpla coating, offering 100% home compostable boxes.