Did you know that it could take up to 500 years for single-use plastic bottles to biodegrade in the ocean, according to estimates from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration?
What if the solution for more sustainable packaging also lies in the seas? Bloomberg Philanthropies is working to ensure the ocean, key marine ecosystems, and the billions who depend on them can survive and thrive through the Bloomberg Ocean Initiative.
Our guest today – Pierre Paslier – co-founded Notpla, short for "not plastic," a company on a mission to make packaging disappear. Based in London, the team creates alternative packaging made from seaweed and plants, ranging from a bubble that could replace plastic cups and bottles at sporting events, to single dose spheres of toothpaste and sustainable, biodegradable packaging for takeaway food. Since it started in 2019, Notpla has replaced almost 3 million units of single-use plastic from entering the environment.
Notpla is a winner of the 2022 Earthshot Prize, a prestigious global environment prize launched by His Royal Highness Prince William to incentivize change and help repair our planet with innovative solutions by 2030. Our founder, Mike Bloomberg, serves as Global Advisor to the Winners of the Earthshot Prize, including Notpla, and Bloomberg Philanthropies - alongside Bloomberg LP - has supported The Earthshot Prize since its creation in 2019, as a Global Alliance Founding Partner. In fact, Bloomberg LP uses Notpla's sustainable packaging at its European headquarters in London.
On this episode, Katherine Oliver sits down with Pierre. They discuss how he created Notpla with his co-founder and former classmate, Rodrigo Garcia Gonzalez, how Notpla expanded from its first product to introduce packaging solutions for electronics, fashion, cosmetics and food, his experience with The Earthshot Prize, and how he’s planning on using his prize money to expand Notpla’s impact.
140. Tackling Air Pollution in Poland
139. Driving Urban Innovation in Cities Around the World
138. Tackling the Tobacco Industry Around the World
137. How Can We Reduce the Gaps in Racial Wealth Equity Data?
136. How Can We Support Student Success at All Stages?
135. Can the Arts Keep You Healthy?
134. Advancing Public Health Strategies to Reduce Overdose Deaths
133. Investing in Women's Economic Independence
132. Combatting Pandemic Learning Loss
130. Reducing Tobacco Use in the Philippines
129. Telling Climate Stories Through Film & TV
128. Bringing Cities in Crisis Together to Tackle Housing Unaffordability
127. Advancing Racial Equity in Climate Justice
126. Addressing Racial Inequity in Climate Justice Through Art
125. Providing Critical Maternal Health Services in Tanzania
124. How Central America's Largest City Is Going Digital
Providing Greater Access to Racial Wealth Equity Data
122. Secrets of the Retail Food Environment
121. How Does Climate Change Affect the Cultural Sector?
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