Notpla – a UK start-up company that has developed an alternative to plastic packaging from seaweed – has been named as one of the winners of the Earthshot environmental awards, held in Boston, US.
London-based Notpla was named the winner in the Build a Waste-Free World category and will receive £1 million.
“Fourteen million tonnes of plastic enter our oceans each year. We founded Notpla when we discovered the solution lies in our oceans too. We are already replacing plastic that plagues our seas, and working with seaweed farms that give back to the environment and the local economy. Thank you for recognising us as we take our next big step and eliminate single-use plastic for good,” Notpla Co-Founder & CEO, Pierre Paslier, said.
In its second year, The Earthshot Prize embarked upon a nine-month search process, seeking out the most inspiring and innovative solutions to the greatest environmental challenges facing the planet. Over 1,000 applications from around the world were considered, with 15 finalists from 10 countries chosen through a selection process supported by an expert advisory panel.
Each of the winners’ solutions excelled in the rigorous screening process following an assessment on their potential to create game-changing impact around the world, and their ability to help us reach our Earthshot goals while also positively impacting people, communities, and the natural world.
The final five winners were selected by The Earthshot Prize Council, a diverse team of influential individuals which include: HRH Prince William, Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan, Sir David Attenborough, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Indra Nooyi, Shakira Mebarak, Christiana Figueres, Luisa Neubauer, Cate Blanchett, Yao Ming, Daniel Alves Da Silva, Ernest Gibson, Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim, Jack Ma, and Naoko Yamazaki.
Speaking during the ceremony, The Prince of Wales said, “I believe that the Earthshot solutions you have seen this evening prove we can overcome our planet’s greatest challenges. And by supporting and scaling them we can change our future. Alongside tonight’s winners and finalists, and those to be discovered over the years to come, it’s my hope the Earthshot legacy will continue to grow, helping our communities and our planet to thrive.”
All 15 finalists who featured in the ceremony will receive tailored support from The Earthshot Prize Global Alliance, a network of world-leading philanthropies, NGOs, and private sector businesses around the world who will help scale their solutions.
Support could include access to resources across numerous professions including manufacturing, retail, supply chains, legal advice, digital technology, business strategy and government relations.
The Earthshot Prize team is in discussions with all finalists about the support they need which could include business strategy, further investment, or advice on growing their leadership platforms.
At the London Marathon in 2019, 36,000 Notpla-made Oohos, filled with Lucozade, were handed to runners. This year, Notpla has made over 1 million takeaway food boxes for Just Eat Takeaway.com, with the potential to replace over 100 million plastic coated containers in Europe in the future.
The company is continuing to research and develop new formats and solutions, with flexible films and rigid materials in the pipeline.
