When asked what resource hides beneath the ocean, most people would probably think of oil. But there's another abundant one hiding in plain sight.
Seaweed doesn't need fresh water, land, or fertilizer to survive, and it regenerates quickly, growing more than 30 times faster than land-based plants. Entire forests of this versatile algae lie beneath the waves, offering a nutrient-rich, renewable resource.
In recent years, multiple innovators have explored using seaweed to replace materials that can take tens, if not hundreds, of years to decompose. One company that's succeeded is Notpla.
A global leader in sustainable materials
Notpla is a leading developer of sustainable packaging. It harnesses the power of nature to replace traditional, environmentally harmful packaging with a next-generation, sustainable replacement made of seaweed and plants. While most mass-use containers and packaging have long-lasting, petrol-based coatings, Notpla's packaging leaves no trace behind and can be recycled, dissolved, composted, and even eaten.
Co-founders Rodrigo Garcia Gonzalez and Pierre Paslier began their sustainability mission in 2013 at London's Imperial College by developing Ooho, an edible bubble made from seaweed that holds liquids.
Since then, their company and its product range have grown, and Notpla now has various sustainable solutions available including food containers, natural food utensils, zero-waste paper, and oil pipettes. They're also constantly innovating and are developing new products including laundry sachets, dry food sachets, and espresso cups to provide sustainable alternatives to conventional packaging.
As Notpla has grown, it's replaced over 30 million single-use plastic items across Europe, won multiple prestigious prizes, secured major partnerships, and even had a royal visit, with Prince William stopping by the London office in May 2023.
In 2024, when Rodrigo and Pierre were looking to secure funding to scale Notpla's operations, they asked us to help due to our experience advising growth-stage sustainability companies.
Creating extraordinary results together
We advised Notpla on its £20 million Series A+ funding round, the largest funding for a European sustainable packaging growth-stage business in 2024. The round was led by UB Forest Industry Green Growth Fund and included a diverse group of existing and new investors including Catalytic Capital for Climate & Health (C3H), an impact-first vehicle by Temasek Trust, Horizons Ventures, Astanor, and many more.
Notpla used the funding to scale up its manufacturing capabilities, broaden its product range, and establish a foothold in new markets, including the key North American market. Notpla has gone from strength to strength, and Rodrigo and Pierre are aiming to produce over 100 million units of their products over the next few years.
We're proud to have helped Notpla on its mission to restore planetary health and look forward to the next phase of its growth journey.
Quotes
“Supporting Notpla’s journey from early innovation to global leadership in sustainable packaging has been a privilege. Their commitment to creating solutions that leave no trace – recyclable, compostable, even edible materials – sets a new standard for responsible business and genuine environmental impact.”
Ian Moore, Taylor Wessing Partner
“From the very beginning, our ambition with Notpla was to prove that nature-based materials can compete with, and outperform, conventional packaging at scale. Securing our Series A+ was a pivotal moment in turning that ambition into reality. It has allowed us to invest in manufacturing, expand our product range, and take meaningful steps towards international growth, while staying true to our mission of designing materials that work with nature, not against it.”
Pierre Paslier, Notpla Co-founder and Co-CEO
