Taste Imperial introduces seaweed-based packaging
Notpla’s compostable packaging helps reduce single-use plastic waste
Taste Imperial has recently introduced seaweed-based Notpla packaging at several canteens on campus. Notpla’s packaging is compostable and will help reduce single-use plastic waste on campus.
“Imperial College London is leading the way in sustainable foodservice,” wrote the Notpla on a recent LinkedIn post.
Notpla will replace 450,000 packaging units, save 1,185 kg of plastic and reduce 13,300 kg of CO2 e, which is the equivalent of 10 return flights from London to New York.
Imperial alumni Pierre-Yves Paslier and Rodrigo Garcia founded Notpla in 2014, while pursuing their masters’ in Innovation Design Engineering. The company won the Earthshot Prize in 2022, for the category “Build a WasteFree World,” and was awarded £1 million.
Notpla’s unique design uses a natural seaweed coating, rather than the convention petrol-based coating, allowing the whole package to be composted. Seaweed is an advantageous choice, as it grows quickly in many environments and captures carbon.
“Seaweed is abundantly available and has near-magical material properties,” says the Notpla website. “In the question to heal our ecosystems and food chains from the toxic waste of plastic packaging, it is the perfect companion species and an integral partner to our solutions.”
Imperial is also considering the adoption of reusable containers to replace single-use boxes. Reusable cups will soon be trialled in The Roastery on the South Kensington campus.
