© Notpla
The funds will be used to accelerate Notpla’s expansion into the North American market, and fuel the development of next-generation, seaweed-based packaging solutions that offer direct replacements to many single-use plastics.
The investment was led by UB Forest Industry Green Growth Fund, alongside Catalytic Capital for Climate & Health (C3H), an impact-first vehicle by Temasek Trust.
“Notpla's business is well aligned with Temasek Trust's impact focus areas. We believe that Notpla’s strong customer traction and product innovation position them well for further business expansion, as they realise even more impact and reduce the environmental harm caused by single-use plastics. We are proud to be part of Notpla’s journey and to see it growing from strength to strength since winning The Earthshot Prize [in 2022], of which we are a founding partner,” said Ryan Tan from Temasek Trust.
Commercial traction
Since launching in 2014, Notpla has replaced over 16 million single-use plastic items across Europe, from their seaweed-lined takeaway food containers, to their famed ‘Ooho’ - an edible liquid bubble. It is expected that they will dramatically increase this volume to over 100 million units annually within the next two years. Fuelled by increased consumer demand for environmentally friendly switch-outs, the company’s innovative packaging, which is both plastic-free and home-compostable, has been adopted by major corporations in Europe including Compass Group, Decathlon, and Just Eat Takeaway.com.
Notpla’s materials are currently used in 10 European markets and help to eliminate plastic in leading stadiums and venues such as Villa Park, The O2 Arena, the Allianz Stadium, and the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
"Notpla’s innovative approach to sustainable packaging, particularly its use of seaweed as a renewable resource, represents a groundbreaking shift away from traditional single-use plastics.” said UB FIGG’s senior partner, David Walker. “This investment aligns perfectly with our mission to drive green growth and promote sustainable practices across industries. We’re excited to partner with Notpla as they scale their operations and continue to lead the charge in reducing the environmental impact of packaging globally."
In 2023, Notpla was part of a regulatory breakthrough where the Dutch government concluded that its food packaging coating was the only application on the market that met its definition of plastic-free under the Single Use Plastic Directive (SUPD). Notpla’s materials are proven to meet the stringent criteria set by the SUPD in that they are both natural polymers derived from seaweed and are not chemically modified.
"We are thrilled to have secured this level of investment in such a competitive environment," said Rodrigo Garcia Gonzalez, co-founder and co-CEO of Notpla. "This round not only validates our approach but also positions us to capitalise on the growing demand for truly plastic-free packaging solutions in global markets, especially as we look towards expansion into the US."
