Business | Fantastic but not plastic

Could seaweed replace plastic packaging?

Companies are experimenting with new ways to reduce plastic waste

Food packaging with "Notpla Coating" is pictured at Notpla.
Made to biodegradePhotograph: Getty Images

In Victorian London, among the factories and warehouses of the city’s East End, Alexander Parkes developed the world’s first plastic (he inventively called it Parkesine). Notpla, a startup now based in the same part of the city, wants to follow in his footsteps. Unlike Parkesine, however, its material is not made to last. And instead of fossil fuels, it is made from seaweed. At Emirates Stadium, not far away, football fans already gorge on hot dogs served on trays that use the material, which decomposes naturally in just six weeks.

From the November 30th 2024 edition

Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contents

Explore the edition

Discover more

A sequoiq tree with a metal detector scanning around the Silicon valley and California.

Has Sequoia Capital outgrown its business model?

Venture capital’s hardiest perennial gets back to its roots

A man cutting the red tape that tiies him.

On stupid rules and quick wins

Why every boss can benefit from asking employees what most infuriates them



Will the trouble ever end for Volkswagen and its rivals?

From strikes to Trump tariffs, calamities abound

After Northvolt’s failure, who will make Europe’s EV batteries?

The continent looks ever more reliant on Asian producers

Audiobooks are booming, thanks to streaming subscriptions

As Amazon opens access to Audible, expect demand to grow