Notpla

What Notpla does

Notpla is a UK-based sustainable packaging company founded in 2013 at Imperial College London by co-founders Rodrigo Garcia Gonzalez and Pierre Paslier. The company develops seaweed- and plant-derived biomaterials that replace single-use plastic in food packaging, foodservice, and home care applications. Its proprietary portfolio includes a patented seaweed-based coating that replaces plastic linings (verified in 2023 by the Dutch government as the first and only truly plastic-free coating meeting EU Single Use Plastic Directive standards), the Ooho edible water membrane, rigid cutlery and ice cream spoons, Notpla Seaweed Paper, water-soluble films for laundry and dishwasher pods, and the SeaView transparent seaweed window. The technology is protected by 10 patents and 14 trade secrets, with manufacturing partnerships including Handtmann for Ooho production at up to 100 units per minute.

Notpla monetizes through direct enterprise sales to stadiums, arenas, QSR chains, and corporate caterers; distribution partnerships with Poloplast, Antonelli, Conpax, and GF Smith; bespoke co-development engagements via its Futures Lab platform with major consumer brands; and a direct-to-consumer e-commerce storefront. Pricing is quote-based for enterprise customers, with bespoke printing minimum order quantities of 50,000 units and free sample boxes for prospects. Named enterprise customers span Just Eat Takeaway.com (across 8 European countries), Wimbledon, The O2, Kia Oval, Allianz Stadium, ExCeL London, Levy, Kwalitaria (160+ Dutch outlets), Imperial College London, Arup, Deloitte, and MACK. To date the company has replaced more than 41 million single-use plastic items across stadiums, universities, and foodservice operations.

The company has raised approximately £30M+ across multiple rounds, including a £20 million Series A in October 2024 led by UB Forest Industry Green Growth Fund, with proceeds earmarked for North American expansion, manufacturing scale-up, and product diversification. Operating geographies span 9 European countries plus the United States, with headquarters in Hackney, London and a team of 11–50 employees.

Name

Notpla

Legal name

NOTPLA LIMITED

Website

https://notpla.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Notpla develops seaweed- and plant-based biomaterials that replace single-use plastic in food packaging, foodservice, and home care. It sells coated containers, edible Ooho membranes, cutlery, paper, and water-soluble films to stadiums, QSR chains, and consumer brands across Europe and North America.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sustainable Packaging Materials

NAICS

Other Paperboard Container Manufacturing (322219), Plastics Packaging Film and Sheet (including Laminated) Manufacturing (326112), Corrugated and Solid Fiber Box Manufacturing (322211)

SIC

Paperboard Containers & Boxes (2650), Unsupported Plastics Film & Sheet (3081), Paper Mills (2621)

akta.pro primary industry

Bio-based Packaging Materials (molded fiber, bio-barrier coatings, compostables) (IMAMALAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Water-Soluble & Edible Packaging (PVOH-based, Edible Films) (IMALAMAI), Compostable & Bio-Based Packaging (PLA/PHA, Starch Blends, Cellulose Films) (IMALAMAB), Biodegradable Packaging Materials (films, trays, foams) (IMAEAOAB), Compostable & Bio-Based Flexible Packaging (PLA, PHA, Cellulose Films) (IMALABAO)

Keywords

• Sustainable packaging materials
• Seaweed-based packaging
• Compostable food containers
• Biodegradable packaging solutions
• Plastic-free packaging

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Product Sales - Food Packaging: Direct sales of seaweed-based food containers, cutlery, pipettes, and packaging solutions to foodservice operators, venues, QSR chains, and businesses. Revenue generated through direct sales team and distribution partners.
2. Futures Lab Co-development: R&D partnership engagements with major consumer brands to develop custom plastic-free packaging solutions. Structured as Discover (2-3 weeks), Build (3-6 months), Validate (2-3 months), Revolutionise (ongoing) process.
3. E-commerce (Notpla Shop): Direct-to-consumer sales of Notpla products including ice cream spoons, sample boxes, and specialty items through the company's own e-commerce platform.
4. Distribution - GF Smith: Distribution partnership for Notpla Seaweed Paper through GF Smith's global paper distribution network, including partner channel.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Notpla develops and manufactures sustainable packaging materials derived from seaweed and plants, replacing single-use plastics in foodservice, home care, and personal care applications. The company sells seaweed-coated food containers, rigid cutlery, edible water pods (Ooho), seaweed paper, water-soluble films, and the SeaView transparent-window range, sold primarily to enterprise foodservice operators, stadiums, QSR chains, and consumer brands via direct sales and distribution partners.

Product overview

Notpla is a family of regenerative packaging materials made from seaweed and plants. The company offers a portfolio of products including: Food Containers with proprietary seaweed-based coating technology; Ooho edible water pods (the original breakthrough product); Rigid Cutlery (ice cream spoons); Notpla Seaweed Paper; Food Oil Pipettes; and the SeaView Collection (world-first transparent seaweed window packaging). The product line also includes prototypes for Laundry Sachets, Dry Food Sachets, Bath Oil Sachets, and Energy Gel Pods in development. The company operates through its Futures Lab innovation platform for brand partnerships. All products are designed to replace single-use plastic through natural, biodegradable alternatives that disappear without harmful traces. The company has replaced over 41 million single-use plastic items across stadiums, universities, and foodservice operations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Ooho: The edible water bubble product - seaweed-based packaging for liquids that is 100% naturally biodegradable and entirely edible.
• SeaView

Products and services

• Notpla Food Containers Seaweed-coated food containers that replace conventional plastic-lined takeaway packaging; home-compostable, PFAS-free, with grease and moisture resistance. Targeted at QSR chains, stadiums, and foodservice operators.
• Rigid Cutlery (Ice Cream Spoons) Compostable rigid cutlery and ice cream spoons made from seaweed, 100% biodegradable, home-compostable, plastic-free, and PFAS-free, serving ice cream vendors and foodservice operators.
• Ooho Edible Water Pods Edible seaweed-based liquid encapsulation pods that can be eaten or composted entirely, deployed at sporting events and aquatics venues to replace single-use plastic bottles and cups.
• Notpla Seaweed Paper Zero-waste paper made from seaweed by-products, with 88% lower Global Warming Potential than conventional virgin pulp paper, distributed to brands, designers, and creative professionals via G.F. Smith.
• Food Oil Pipette Home-compostable drip-release pipette packaging for dispensing oils and liquid seasonings, targeted at foodservice and retail consumers.
• SeaView Collection Food-to-go packaging range combining seaweed-based coating with the world's first transparent seaweed-based window, replacing traditional plastic film in sandwich, wrap, salad, and deli formats for foodservice operators.
• Notpla Film Water-soluble plant-derived film for laundry and dishwasher pods, replacing PVA-based packaging for home care consumer goods brands.
• Futures Lab R&D and product development partnership program for consumer brands to co-develop custom plastic-free packaging solutions through discovery, build, validation, and commercialisation stages.

Quantifiable outcome

• 79% CO2e reduction compared to PP (polypropylene) conventional plastic alternatives
• +8 more outcomes

Named customers18 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Just Eat Takeaway.comflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorld's first seaweed-lined takeaway box development and deployment. Partnership spans 8 countries across Europe. Initial trial with 3 London restaurants expanded to 11 UK partners, now reaching hundreds of thousands of units at UEFA final games.
• HandtmanncoreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership using Handtmann's industry-leading sausage machine adapted for continuous production of Ooho edible membranes. Production capacity of up to 100 units per minute.
• SHIFTminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSHIFT is a pioneer in creating safer, healthier and more sustainable cities. Partnership to install Ooho vending machines at London Aquatics Centre for 6-month trial.
• GF SmithcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGlobal distribution partner for Notpla Seaweed Paper. GF Smith works with brands, creatives, designers and specialists to supply the world's finest paper.
• Imperial College LondoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNotpla co-founders developed their first product concept at Imperial's Innovation Design Engineering master's degree program. Current partnership returning Notpla packaging to campus, replacing 450,000+ plastic units annually.
• MACKcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEco-refill cleaning product company partnered with Notpla Futures Lab to develop seaweed-based water-soluble film for laundry and dishwasher pods, replacing PVA packaging.
• ConpaxminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNetherlands packaging distributor providing logistics support for Kwalitaria partnership rollout of seaweed-coated packs across 160+ outlets.
• KwalitariaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDutch quick-service restaurant chain rolling out seaweed-coated, plastic-free trays and containers across all 160 outlets in Netherlands. Testing Notpla coating under high-volume QSR conditions.
• Lucozade (Ribena)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership at London Marathon replacing single-use plastic cups and bottles with nearly 40,000 Ooho edible water bubbles.
• London Aquatics CentreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVending machine installation for Ooho products at the iconic London Aquatics Centre in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
• PorscheminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLuxury automotive brand mentioned as adopting Notpla seaweed-based alternatives alongside other major brands.
• The Good Eating CompanyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoodservice operator running Arup's London workplace canteen, partnered to introduce SeaView packaging as part of sustainability efforts.
• eXXpeditionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal all-women sailing expeditions focused on tackling ocean plastic crisis. Notpla CIO Karlijn Sibbel participating to map plastic pollution and connect findings to material innovation solutions.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Sway: Sway develops flexible packaging films from seaweed, making it one of the closest direct comparables to Notpla on feedstock and end-market. Both target consumer brand owners seeking plastic-free flexible packaging.
• Loliware: Loliware produces seaweed-based packaging materials and edible straws/cups, sharing Notpla's seaweed-feedstock thesis and sustainability positioning. Both sell to foodservice and consumer brands seeking plastic-free alternatives.
• Kelpi: Kelpi develops seaweed-derived coatings for packaging as a PFAS-free alternative to conventional plastic linings, overlapping directly with Notpla's core seaweed coating platform technology and target applications.
• Evoware: Evoware (Indonesia) manufactures seaweed-based edible and biodegradable packaging, mirroring Notpla's Ooho edible membrane and food-contact applications. Both target foodservice operators in single-use plastic replacement.
• TIPA: TIPA develops fully compostable flexible packaging films and laminates for food and consumer goods, directly competing with Notpla in brand-owner RFPs for plastic-replacement packaging.
• Footprint: Footprint manufactures plant-based, compostable food containers and cutlery for foodservice and QSR customers — overlapping with Notpla's food container, ice cream spoon, and QSR target segments.
• BioPak: BioPak supplies compostable food packaging (cups, containers, cutlery) to foodservice operators globally, making it a direct competitor in the same single-use plastic replacement category Notpla targets.

Emerging players

• Lactips: Lactips produces water-soluble, bio-based films for home care and food applications, overlapping with Notpla's Notpla Film/water-soluble sachet initiatives for laundry and dishwasher pod packaging.

Broad incumbents

• Novamont (Mater-Bi): Novamont produces Mater-Bi bioplastics used in compostable packaging and bags across multiple industries, representing a larger, established bioplastics supplier competing in the same end-markets as Notpla's compostable rigid and flexible packaging.
• Huhtamaki: Huhtamaki is a major global food packaging manufacturer with a growing sustainable/compostable portfolio (e.g., fiber-based tableware). It competes with Notpla in foodservice and QSR channels and has the scale, capital, and customer relationships to win large enterprise RFPs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/notpla
• Instagraminstagram.com/notpla
• Xx.com/notpla
• Facebookfacebook.com/notpla

Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds10 records

Investors18 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Notpla