A drink contained in a packaging that can be eaten.
This is the idea developed by the start-up "Notpla" to reduce soil and ocean pollution while the amount of plastic waste is likely to triple by 2060 according to a recent OECD report.
"Having packaging that can be eaten, it really showed people that we were in a different category than all the bioplastics where we don't really know what happens and how they will be treated at the end of their life. », explains Pierre Paslier, co-founder of the company.
“Initially, we really worked in our kitchen.
We didn't have access to specialized labs and we used natural materials, plant extracts…”, continues the 35-year-old Frenchman.
Made from seaweed, the edible packaging takes the form of a solid membrane that can contain all kinds of liquids: water, cocktails that can be used during festivals, or energy drinks distributed, for example, in Saint-Denis during of the Grande Course du Grand Paris, and in 2019 to the runners of the London marathon.
The start-up is also working on other types of naturally biodegradable packaging.
In addition to boxes for home-delivered meals, “we are also developing flexible films, paper, rigid materials.
So the goal is really to bring algae into a whole bunch of packaging solutions to stop using so much plastic,” explains Pierre Paslier.
Notpla thus supplies the sector giant Just Eat in the United Kingdom and in five other European countries.
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The start-up was selected among the 15 finalists for the Earthshot prize created by Prince William, to reward innovations that are good for the environment or the fight against climate change.
Five of them will be awarded a prize on December 4 in Boston and could win one million pounds each.
