Designers Rodrigo Garcia Gonzalez and Pierre Paslier have been shortlisted for The Bentley Lighthouse Award. Here, the pair select five projects that best reflect their work.
Gonzalez and Paslier are founders of Notpla, a company creating plastic packaging alternatives from seaweed and plants, which are biodegradable, giving the convenience of single-use but without the plastic waste.
"Each product responds to a specific plastic problem identified across multiple industries, from electronics, fashion, cosmetics and food," Gonzalez and Paslier told Dezeen.
"Seaweed is one of the planet's most abundant sources of biomass. Farmed seaweed captures carbon 20 times faster than trees, addressing one of the key causes of the climate crisis."
Notpla, a shortening of "not plastic", was named one of the winners of the 2022 Earthshot Prize, which aims to shine a spotlight on the most innovative solutions to the world's greatest environmental challenges.
Gonzalez and Paslier continue to seek new solutions and evolutions of existing products through their "deep understanding of complementary fields, from material science, to biology, manufacturing and product design".
Gonzalez and Paslier are Dezeen Awards shortlisted
Dezeen Awards 2023, in partnership with Bentley Motors, revealed all shortlisted projects earlier this month.
The Bentley Lighthouse Award recognises designers who are curious and courageous in their approach, and whose work has had a beneficial impact on social and environmental sustainability, inclusivity or community empowerment.
Winners will be announced at a party in London on Tuesday 28 November. You can secure your tickets now via Eventbrite. Book before 31 October to save 20 percent on tickets.
Read on to find Gonzalez's and Paslier's views on the five projects that best represent their work:
Notpla Ooho
"Ooho is an edible bubble revolutionising how liquids, condiments, energy gels and drinks are packaged.
"It is a great tool for communicating our position in the market as a truly sustainable solution in a sea of greenwashing.
"It is offering a unique opportunity for sampling beverages, proving valuable at events such as sport.
"This year 25,000 Oohos filled with electrolyte drinks hydrated runners at one of the biggest half-marathons in the world, Göteborgsvarvet, in Sweden."
Notpla Coating
"Notpla partnered with Just Eat Takeaway to develop a range of cardboard, disposable food containers coated with seaweed.
"This invisible improvement – a transparent coating – was a revolutionary move for the takeaway industry, which traditionally relies on plastic or 'forever-chemicals' to hold the contents of these boxes.
"We've replaced more than three million coated food containers with a natural alternative, which made us the first company in the regenerative packaging category to reach industrial scale."
Notpla Paper
"Notpla Paper is a zero-waste paper from a forest below the sea. Offering a different way to design, seaweed provides lush biodiversity, regenerates faster, draws down more carbon, and does not compete for soil.
"Notpla Paper is a material that enables future-focused creatives and brands to challenge the status quo. A by-product from seaweed processing, formerly considered waste, gives Notpla Paper its unique veining and sensory quality while closing the loop on the seaweed industry."
Notpla Film
"Notpla Film is a flexible packaging with magical properties, having the ability to dissolve into hot or cold water.
"It has a wide range of packaging uses, for food, cosmetics or household cleaning."
Notpla Rigid
"Notpla Rigid is a solid packaging suitable for a wide range of applications, from consumer electronics to luxury goods.
"Notpla Rigid is ideal for protecting heavy and delicate items usually packaged with rigid plastic. It can be used to create detailed solutions with varying characteristics, such as material thickness, and everything from cosmetics containers to cutlery is possible.
"A focus on the food service industry has also allowed us to identify key challenges where we can provide solutions – an urgent one being a need to replace single-use plastic cutlery, which was recently banned in England."
Dezeen Awards 2023
Dezeen Awards celebrates the world's best architecture, interiors and design. Now in its sixth year, it has become the ultimate accolade for architects and designers across the globe. The annual awards are in partnership with Bentley Motors, as part of a wider collaboration that will see the brand work with Dezeen to support and inspire the next generation of design talent.