What if Plastic Bottles Vanished?

and we had edible packaging?

What if plastic bottles vanished?
The answer: edible water pods.

Ooho! by Notpla, a London startup founded in 2014 by Rodrigo Garcia Gonzalez and Pierre Paslier—offers a brilliant fix.

These pods, made from seaweed and calcium chloride, are shaking up how we think about packaging.

They look like an egg yolk, feel like apple skin, and you can drink straight from them or eat the pod.

Tasty, eco-friendly, zero waste.

The magic lies in the material: a seaweed-based membrane called Notpla (short for “Not Plastic”).

It’s biodegradable, edible, and free of harmful chemicals.

Each pod holds liquids perfectly—water, soft drinks, even sauces—making it a versatile fit for events, restaurants, and more.

If uneaten, it breaks down naturally in just 4-6 weeks.
Compare that to plastic bottles, which can linger for centuries.

Ooho! made headlines at the 2019 London Marathon, where 36,000 pods were handed to runners, replacing single-use plastic cups.

The result?
Less waste, happier planet.

Since then, Notpla has expanded its reach, partnering with brands like Just Eat and Lucozade for trials at festivals and stadiums.
They’ve even won awards, like the 2020 Earthshot Prize, for their sustainable innovation.

My take: This is a game-changer.

Imagine a world where packaging disappears after use.
No more plastic choking our oceans.
Just smart, edible solutions.

But scalability and cost remain hurdles.
Can Ooho! compete with cheap plastics at a global level?

I’m optimistic, but curious about the logistics.

What do you think?
Could edible pods redefine sustainability in your world?

Learn More: Check out Notpla’s work at notpla.com
Fun Fact: Notpla’s founders started experimenting with seaweed in their university kitchen.