Seaweed. The Secret to Restoring our Planet?

By Pierre-Yves Paslier, co-CEO of Notpla

Pierre-Yves Paslier Co-founder & Co-CEO of Notpla - Earthshot Prize 2022 🏆

Seaweed is often overlooked, but it holds a treasure trove of benefits for both the environment and our daily lives. Here's what we know about this incredible marine organism and how Notpla, an Earthshot Prize Winner, are using it to replace single-use plastics.

• Seaweed has incredibly fast growth. Seaweed species like Giant Kelp can grow up to 50cm per day, making it one of the fastest-growing organisms on Earth.

• It's edible! All seaweed species are edible.

• It's a true plastic replacement. At Notpla we use components of seaweed to replace single-use plastics, allowing us to make 100% natural packaging including takeaway food containers, sachets, and cutlery.

• No land is needed to grow seaweed. Unlike crops grown on land, seaweed doesn't need farmland. It grows in the ocean and doesn’t need fresh water, fertilisers, or pesticides.

• There are many species. There are over 12,000 different species of seaweed that have been identified, out of an estimated 1 million species that have yet to be characterised. Some are more different from each other than a mushroom is from an elephant. 

• Seaweed is regenerative. Seaweed farming can help regenerate healthy oceans. It provides food for sea creatures and captures carbon, which helps fight climate change.

• It's the OG. Seaweed has been on Earth for over 1.6 billion years, 450 million years longer than plants on land.

• You can already find it in everyday products. Did you know that seaweed is already used in many things we use daily, like toothpaste, ice cream, and even beer? Seaweed is also used in cosmetics, pharma and as fertilisers. 

• It's a natural filter. Seaweed farms can reduce ocean pollution, improve water quality by absorbing extra nutrients and can even help reduce ocean acidification.

• It's a vast crop. Almost 40 million tonnes of seaweed is produced annually, and 95% comes from seaweed farms, rather than wild sources.

• Seaweed is building income streams. Growing and harvesting seaweed can add another income stream to coastal communities reliant on fishing, improving their resilience.

• It's also a natural defence. Seaweed farms have been shown to protect coastlines from large waves during extreme weather, reducing their damaging effects. 

There's a seaweed revolution and it's happening now. Are you excited? Follow Notpla to see the latest in seaweed innovation.

Notpla Packaging and Containers Manufacturing