How One Company is Attempting to Solve the Single-Use Plastic Crisis

Single-use plastic waste is a massive issue in today’s world with about 300 million tons of plastic waste produced each year. With traditional plastic, it can take hundreds of years to biodegrade. This creates a huge environmental crisis which has only been exacerbated by the pandemic – a time when work-from-home has increased the amount of plastic takeout boxes which is often improperly disposed of, with a study referenced in the article showing an increase of around 25 to 30% since the pandemic began. 

While there are several companies working on this crisis, the one that will be discussed in this article is called Notpla. Notpla is a London-based startup creating an edible and biodegradable alternative to plastic. 

Unlike traditional plastic, the version created by Notpla biodegrades in around four to six weeks. Moreover, it is created from seaweed! It is described in the article as “The membrane is made from seaweed farmed in northern France. It's dried and ground down into powder, and then a secret recipe transforms it into a thick, gloopy fluid, which dries to form a plastic-like substance.” 

If you’re wondering ‘why seaweed,’ it is described as being more eco-friendly than other starch-based alternatives. This is largely due to the fact that it does not require time or land to grow and since it is so abundant. Additionally, the company’s co-founder explains that their seaweed is capable of growing as much as 1 meter per day. 

For products, Notpla’s technology has been implemented (or is working to be implemented) in things such as disposable food containers, food and drink packets, and even clothes, screws, and furniture. 

The pandemic has exacerbated the issue of waste disposal, which both developed and developing nations struggle with. Increased reliance on single-use plastics disproportionately impacts low-income households and people of color, especially given that these groups tend to live in areas with a less robust waste system and/or in areas close to waste facilities. Now it’s time for you to brainstorm what kind of company you can think of to help alleviate this issue.  How do you think companies like Notpla become profitable (i.e. who do you think their core audience is)? What other ways do you see this kind of technology being able to be used? Feel free to discuss the blog post, article, or the last questions in the comments section.

*This blog post was summarized from the article below, please take a look if you’re interested.

https://www.businessinsider.com/notpla-plastic-waste-seaweed-packaging-2020-10

Good luck, delegates!

Warm regards,

Harrison Winikoff

BVC Vice Chair, BMUN LXX