London-based seaweed packaging startup, Notpla, has successfully closed a Series A+ funding round, raising £20 million (approximately $25 million) in equity. This figure surpasses their initial goal, enabling the company to scale production, diversify its range of eco-friendly packaging, and strengthen its presence in North America.
Led by the UB Forest Industry Green Growth Fund (UB FIGG), the funding round attracted key investors, including Catalytic Capital for Climate & Health (C3H), Horizons Ventures, and Astanor Ventures. New backers such as the Schmidt Family Foundation, Radicle Impact, EIT Food’s AgriFoodInvest, and others also contributed to support Notpla’s mission of eliminating single-use plastics.
UB FIGG’s senior partner, David Walker, praised Notpla’s innovation, highlighting its transformative use of seaweed as a sustainable alternative to traditional plastic packaging. “Notpla’s pioneering use of renewable resources marks a significant departure from the harmful single-use plastics that dominate the market,” said Walker.
Since its founding in 2014, Notpla claims to have eliminated 16 million single-use plastic items, with plans to increase this figure to over 100 million annually by 2026. The company’s compostable materials are already in use across 10 European markets, partnering with major brands like Compass Group, Decathlon, and Just Eat Takeaway. Venues such as Aston Villa FC, The O2 Arena, and Allianz Stadium have also adopted their packaging solutions.
Co-founders Rodrigo Garcia Gonzalez and Pierre Paslier launched Notpla to harness seaweed and other renewable materials to develop scalable, plastic-free alternatives. Their materials comply with the Single-Use Plastic Directive (SUPD) and have been recognized by the Dutch government as fully plastic-free. In 2022, Notpla was awarded the prestigious Earthshot Prize for its innovative solutions.
With this new round of funding, Notpla aims to expand its product offerings and ramp up production to meet growing demand, particularly in the U.S. market. “Securing this investment solidifies our position as a leader in sustainable packaging,” said Gonzalez. “We’re excited to continue innovating and driving the market toward truly plastic-free solutions.”
Catalytic Capital for Climate & Health’s Director, Ryan Tan, expressed optimism about Notpla’s growth potential, stating, “Their strong customer adoption and innovative products position them for impactful expansion.”
Source: Packaging Europe
