Edible seaweed packaging wins 2021 Cannes Lions Design Grand Prix

Today, the Cannes Lions 2021 Design Jury awarded one of two Grand Prix to “Notpla,” a sustainable packaging brand that uses a seaweed-based material to ensure that its products can naturally decompose within weeks, compared to plastic, which takes 700 years to break down.

The company was founded in 2014 by Pierre-Yves Paslier and Rodrigo Garcia Gonzalez. "Notpla" material can be used in an array of packaging, including plastic cups, condiment sachets and coatings for cardboard, film and paper.

WPP branding agency Superunion helped to develop the company’s branding and name. “Notpla” is an abbreviation of “not plastic,” meant to represent the products’ fully natural materials and differentiate them from the crowded bioplastics category.

The Design Jury awarded two Grand Prix during this Festival, as they were allowed to award one for each of the 2020 and 2021 awards seasons. The other Grand Prix went to H&M's "Loop" from AKQA Stockholm, an innovative system that allowed consumers to upcycle their old H&M clothing into completely new pieces.