Did you know a single sachet of ketchup takes over 700 years to decompose?
Notpla, a start-up based in London, is making a plastic alternative out of seaweed and plants that is not only biodegradable, but also edible.
While plastic takes several hundred years to decompose, Notpla’s material biodegrades within a short span of 4-6 weeks.
In 2019, London Marathon runners were handed sports drinks in golf-ball sized edible Notpla pouches instead of plastic bottles, drastically reducing the amount of plastic waste that is generated at the event each year.
These pouches are called ‘Ooho’, named after the sound people make when they see it. If not eaten, the pouches dissolve in a month when discarded.
The company is also pitching the packets as a way to hold condiments like ketchup and salad dressing, juices and pre-mixed cocktails.
Edible shots anyone?
The start-up has also developed a water and grease-proof coating for takeaway boxes. Instead of using plastic to line the boxes, Notpla can be used as a sustainable alternative, making the box entirely biodegradable.
