Notpla, the award-winning sustainable packaging innovator, has returned to its roots at Imperial College London to help eliminate single-use plastic across the university’s catering operations. The company’s seaweed-based, home-compostable foodservice packaging is now available at Imperial’s food and drink outlets, marking a full-circle moment for the company that started here.

A Full-Circle Moment

Notpla’s journey began at Imperial’s Innovation Design Engineering master’s degree, where co-founders Pierre Paslier and Rodrigo Garcia Gonzalez developed their first product concept – the edible liquid bubble called Ooho. With support from Imperial’s Venture Catalyst Challenge and Undaunted's accelerator (now called The Greenhouse), Notpla evolved into a global leader in sustainable material innovation.

The partnership with Imperial is a significant milestone for the company, bringing the solutions back to where it all started. Pierre Paslier, Co-Founder of Notpla, expressed, “To see our packaging now being used at Imperial, where the journey began for us, is incredibly meaningful. It shows how universities can lead by example – supporting innovation, closing the loop, and educating the next generation at the same time.”

Partnership for Sustainability

This initiative is part of Imperial’s broader Sustainable Imperial strategy, a key element of the university’s commitment to environmental sustainability. As part of its Science For Humanity strategy, Imperial embraces new technologies and challenges conventional thinking to lead by example in sustainability. The university’s Sustainable Food and Drink Policy 2026-2031, launched in September 2025, also reflects its commitment to reducing the environmental impact of its operations.

Reducing Plastic Waste

Notpla’s packaging is made from renewable seaweed extracts and is home-compostable, breaking down like fruit peel. It is compliant with strict UK and EU packaging regulations and offers a 100% plastic-free and PFAS-free coating. This sustainable packaging solution is now replacing more than 450,000 units of single-use plastic packaging across Imperial’s campuses, making a significant environmental impact:

• 1,185kg of plastic saved (more than the weight of a Fiat 500)
• 13,300kg of carbon emissions reduced (equivalent to ten return flights from London to New York)

Health and Environmental Impact

Beyond reducing plastic waste, Notpla’s packaging addresses a growing concern regarding microplastics and chemicals such as PFAS, which can leach from conventional plastic-lined takeaway packaging into hot food. A 2024 scientific review published in Environmental Research shows increasing evidence that micro- and nano-plastics can enter the human body through food, water, and air, potentially leading to health issues like inflammation and respiratory disorders. By adopting Notpla’s alternative coatings, Imperial aims to protect the wellbeing of its students and staff.

Looking Ahead: Expanding the Model for Sustainability

With the momentum behind sustainability in higher education, this collaboration is a model for other institutions. Imperial and Notpla are already exploring opportunities to expand the initiative across additional sites on the campus. The university’s ongoing focus on sustainability is inspiring other institutions to take similar steps toward reducing single-use plastic waste.

“It’s a proud moment to see Notpla go full circle from students with big ideas, to entrepreneurs scaling their business in our ecosystem, to being suppliers in our own sustainability efforts on campus,” said Professor Hugh Brady, President of Imperial College London.

Fostering Innovation and Sustainability

By focusing on reducing single-use plastic and promoting compostable alternatives, Imperial is not only advancing sustainability goals but also inspiring the next generation of innovators. This initiative demonstrates the role that universities can play in tackling climate change and promoting sustainable solutions in everyday life.

Notpla and Imperial’s collaboration represents a major step forward in the journey toward creating a circular economy on campus, supporting sustainability while providing innovative packaging solutions to the next generation of students and staff.