Notpla, the award-winning innovator in sustainable food and beverage packaging, is reestablishing its connection with Imperial College London to help combat single-use plastics in the university’s catering operations.
This collaboration aligns with Imperial’s Sustainable Imperial strategy, which aims to implement evidence-based climate solutions, embrace innovative technologies, challenge conventional practices, and lead by example on its campuses.
Notpla’s seaweed-based, home-compostable foodservice packaging now features prominently at Imperial’s food and drink outlets, marking a significant moment for the company. Notpla originated from Imperial’s Innovation Design Engineering master’s degree, where co-founders Pierre Paslier and Rodrigo Garcia Gonzalez first developed their product concept—the edible liquid bubble known as Ooho. They began their journey to revolutionize packaging with sustainable materials. Throughout their development phase, the Notpla team received invaluable support from various Imperial initiatives, including the Venture Catalyst Challenge and Undaunted’s accelerator (now called The Greenhouse).
Today, Notpla stands as a global leader in sustainable material innovation, with its solutions once again serving the next generation of students and the very staff who helped shape the company’s entrepreneurial roots.
Delivering on commitments to campus sustainability
This partnership represents a natural synergy for Imperial, renowned for its dedication to environmental sustainability. With increasing student demand and a robust portfolio of sustainability-focused research, the university embraces Notpla’s innovative solutions as integral to its Sustainable Imperial initiative. This initiative was highlighted in its Science For Humanity strategy in 2024 and reiterated in the Sustainable Food and Drink Policy 2026-2031, launched in September 2025.
“To see our packaging now being used at Imperial, where the journey began for us, is incredibly meaningful. It shows how universities can lead by example—supporting innovation, closing the loop, and educating the next generation at the same time,” says Pierre Paslier, Co-Founder of Notpla.
The partnership exemplifies Imperial’s broader sustainability ambitions to reduce the environmental impact of its operations while fostering innovation within its community. It empowers graduates to take the lead in battling climate change and utilizes Imperial’s research strengths to accelerate sustainability transformations across industry and society.
Imperial’s President, Professor Hugh Brady, added: “Notpla represents the power of science and enterprise to provide solutions to some of the world’s biggest problems—particularly by helping businesses replace millions of pieces of single-use plastic. It’s a proud moment to see Notpla go full circle from students with big ideas, to entrepreneurs scaling their business in our ecosystem, to becoming suppliers in our sustainability efforts on campus. We are delighted that Rodrigo and Pierre remain integral members of the Imperial community.”
Closing the loop—with students at the centre
This initiative also addresses the growing concern on university campuses regarding microplastics and chemicals like PFAS, which can leach from conventional plastic-lined takeaway packaging into hot food. A 2024 scientific review published in Environmental Research emphasizes an increasing body of evidence suggesting that micro- and nano-plastics can enter the human body through food, water, and air, potentially leading to inflammation, respiratory disorders, and other adverse health effects. By adopting alternative coatings, Imperial underscores its commitment to safeguarding the wellbeing of its students and staff, as well as the planet.
Notpla’s packaging offers several advantages:
- Made from renewable seaweed extracts
- Home-compostable, breaking down like a piece of fruit peel
- Compliant with the strictest UK & EU packaging regulations
- 100% plastic-free and PFAS-free coating
This partnership is poised to make a significant impact over the next year:
- Replacing over 450,000 units of single-use plastic packaging
- Saving 1,185 kg of plastic (more than the weight of a Fiat 500)
- Cutting 13,300 kg of carbon emissions (equivalent to ten return flights from London to New York)
Looking ahead: a model for university sustainability
As the momentum behind sustainability in higher education continues to grow, this partnership serves as a leading example of how universities can achieve meaningful progress on environmental goals while encouraging students to adopt an entrepreneurial mindset. It challenges campus communities to reconsider the materials they use daily.
Notpla and Imperial are actively exploring opportunities to expand this initiative to additional locations on campus, inspiring similar efforts at other institutions already.