What does Notpla do?
Notpla is a packaging company that was born from the need for a truly sustainable solution to the plastic problem.
Inspired by nature, Notpla has developed packaging made out of seaweed to accomplish its mission of making single-use plastic packaging disappear.
How did London & Partners help you to set up and grow your sustainability business in London?
We were aware of the work London & Partners is doing and started collaborating more closely in February 2023. Rodrigo and Pierre (our cofounders) attended the London for Sustainability Networking Event that London & Partners was hosting and got to meet its community of stakeholders, partners and industry experts.
Since that event, we have become part of the London & Partners international business programme which gives us access to workshops, corporate engagements and international trade missions. This is particularly important to us right now, as we are looking to expand into the North American market.
Furthermore, London & Partners has been actively supporting us in our trip to the New York Climate Week, where we are hoping to showcase Notpla to potential investors and commercial partners.
What is Notpla’s long-term sustainability goal in the coming years?
The long-term goal is for our sustainable solutions to become the norm rather than an option. We believe that the scalability of truly sustainable products is necessary if we want to witness real change and tackle the plastic problem.
In order to do this, legislation addressing this problem needs to be implemented and we want to be part of this conversation. As well as providing the solution to the problem, we want to inform legislation makers and the consumers about the necessary steps needed to adopt sustainability.
What challenges did you face to become a successful sustainability business in London? How did you overcome them?
One of the most recurrent challenges when it comes to scalability is the greenwashing and misinformation present in the industry. We are trying to overcome the barrier of dishonest solutions that claim to be sustainable, but in fact have plastic or microplastic that remains in the environment.
For our products to enter the market seamlessly and at the large scale intended, legislative change still needs to happen to regulate solutions that are not in fact sustainable and halt the path to a single-use, plastic-free future and market.
Why do you think now is the best time to set up and grow a sustainability company in London?
Now is a pivotal moment for sustainability in London. With increasing global attention on sustainable solutions, London is a leader in this space. If you have a sustainable idea, it's crucial to act and bring it to fruition. Engage with your community, foster discussions and drive awareness.
Remember, it is not just about highlighting problems; it is about being a creative solution-maker. By leveraging London's diverse communities and avoiding environmental "doomism”, we can catalyse meaningful change and pave the way for a sustainable future together.