Notpla, a pioneering leader in sustainable packaging and the recipient of The Earthshot Prize in 2022, has successfully completed a £20 million fundraising round (over US$25 million). This achievement not only surpasses their initial target but also underscores their resilience amid challenging economic conditions. The Series A+ funding represents a significant milestone in Notpla’s commitment to providing a natural alternative to single-use plastics. With their innovative, seaweed-based materials, Notpla aims to replace over 100 million single-use plastics annually.
This capital injection serves as a strong endorsement of Notpla’s business model and growth strategy, signaling positive momentum for next-generation materials. Founded by Pierre Paslier and Rodrigo Garcia Gonzalez, Notpla has led the way in sustainable innovation by developing natural—and even edible—solutions for everyday plastic packaging items. After winning Prince William’s Earthshot Prize in 2022, their impact has already been substantial, having displaced over 16 million single-use plastic items across Europe. With the new funding, Notpla is poised to further scale their operations, enhance their innovative material properties, and expand their presence in the U.S. market.
“Our investors recognise the commercial potential of our technology and our unique solutions. This funding allows us to accelerate our growth and continue leading the market in sustainable innovation,” said Pierre Paslier, Notpla’s Co-Founder and Co-CEO. “This investment is more than just financial support; it’s a validation of the growing demand from consumers around the world for real solutions to the plastic problem.”
Since its inception in 2014, Notpla has become a forerunner in the packaging sector. Their renowned ‘Ooho’—an edible liquid bubble made from seaweed—has caught the attention of brands like Lucozade and Decathlon, prompting them to reduce plastic usage. Aiming for a broader impact, Notpla has adapted their innovative material for takeaway food packaging, effectively addressing the challenges posed by conventional plastic and bioplastic barriers. Their seaweed-lined takeaway containers are now produced in millions and distributed throughout Europe, being utilized by some of the industry’s largest players. Furthermore, in 2024, Notpla expanded its offerings to include rigid cutlery, launching a home-compostable ice cream spoon now available at scale.
With this latest funding, Notpla is gearing up for an extensive increase in impact, projecting to replace over 100 million units of single-use plastic with their materials within the next two years. Driven by rising consumer demand for environmentally friendly food and drink packaging solutions, the company’s innovative packaging—both plastic-free and home-compostable—has gained traction among major European corporations, including Compass Group, Decathlon, and Just Eat Takeaway.com. Notpla’s materials now feature in 10 European markets, effectively aiding in the elimination of plastic from leading venues such as Aston Villa FC, The O2 Arena, Allianz Stadium, and Tottenham Hotspur.
In 2023, Notpla celebrated a regulatory achievement when the Dutch government determined that its food packaging coating was the only product on the market meeting the definition of plastic-free under the Single Use Plastic Directive (SUPD). Notpla’s environmentally friendly materials meet the stringent criteria established by the SUPD, as they consist of natural polymers derived from seaweed, without any chemical modifications.
“Our goal has always been to create products and materials that can make a real difference,” added Rodrigo Garcia Gonzalez, Notpla Co-Founder and Co-CEO. “From our early days producing Ooho in our student kitchen to seeing runners consume them in their thousands at the London Marathon, and now producing millions of credible packaging solutions for various industries—it’s just immense. This investment brings us one step closer to a world where truly plastic-free food and drink sustainable packaging is the standard, not the exception.”
