![\"\"](\"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/media\/2023\/10\/6383183460807116002.10._Notpla_main_800.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nMade from seaweed and plant extracts, Notpla provides an internal coating for food takeaway boxes to retain moisture and grease in food and maintain the packaging\u2019s robustness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Niall Russell, head of Marketing at Notpla, tells Packaging Insights<\/em><\/strong> that a \u201chuge\u201d loophole in the EU\u2019s SUPD allows plastic companies to proclaim to be \u201cplastic-free\u201d in how they communicate with the market and sell their products. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis loophole stems from the ambiguous definition of \u2018main structural\u2019 component in the plastic definition. Until addressed, this argument will continue to be used to exonerate any type of synthetic coating or additive that very much is a plastic, like polylactic acid or water-based dispersion coatings.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Russell continues by stating that the vagueness and actual makeup of the directive and corresponding legislations create an \u201ceven greater challenge\u201d for Notpla to convey that the company\u2019s products are plastic-free.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n The solution replaces traditional plastic coatings and chemical treatments that are otherwise found in traditional food boxes, explains the\u00a0winner of Prince William\u2019s Earthshot Prize 2022<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Notpla packaging can be recycled with paper or composted at home without leaving toxins or microplastics behind.<\/p>\n\n\n As part of the SUPD, enforced in July 2021, the EU revealed the first definition of plastic: \u201cPlastic\u201d is a material consisting of polymers that are either chemically modified or synthetically polymerized. The law requested EU member states to prohibit certain single-use plastic items and put in place marking requirements through their national legislation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After a thorough independent assessment by global sustainability consultancy Eunomia Research & Consulting, Notpla Coating was confirmed to be fully compliant with the EU\u2019s SUPD and therefore is not plastic. Eunomia has concluded that the polymer utilized by Notpla within their packaging products may be defined as a natural polymer that is not chemically modified and is therefore not considered to be \u201cplastic\u201d as defined by the EU SUPD, finds the Eunomia report.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Notpla](\"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/media\/2023\/10\/2e93fc03-2eda-4936-9c5c-f34f406dcf2c2.10.-Notplas-new-collection.jpg\")