UK-based Innocent Drinks has trialled its Fiery Ginger shots in Notpla’s edible, biodegradable seaweed packaging, offering consumers a plastic-free alternative that is designed to be swallowed with the product.
The two-day pilot began on 27 October in Nobottle, a hamlet in Northamptonshire, where residents sampled the 12ml ginger shots in Notpla’s ‘Ooho pod’.
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Each portion was sealed within a thin membrane made from seaweed-based materials, allowing consumers to place the pod directly in their mouths and consume it whole.
Innocent also brought the trial to Coventry University, where students were invited to taste the pods and provide feedback on the format.
Ooho is an edible bubble that can contain liquids and food products.
Its flexible membrane is made with seaweed and other plant-derived materials, has no taste or smell, and does not contain conventional plastic.
The packaging can be consumed alongside its contents, eliminating the need for disposal or recycling.
Where it is not eaten, the membrane is intended to biodegrade naturally.
Notpla has previously used Ooho for water, sports drinks, sauces, and condiments, particularly where packaging is required for only a short time.
The company described the tie-up with Innocent as “another example of how collaboration between brands and material innovators can open up new possibilities for packaging in the activation space”.
The company said the initiative was limited to a two-day pilot activation and that it has no plans to sell its shots in Ooho pods.
The technology is currently available for events and brand activations, where pods are made fresh and consumed within a few days.
Its limited shelf life makes it unsuitable for most retail products, except items with low water content.
Notpla’s seaweed-based packaging has also been adopted elsewhere in the UK.
In January, Imperial College London partnered with the sustainable packaging company to introduce home-compostable seaweed packaging at food and drink outlets across its campus. The initiative aims to reduce the use of single-use plastic in the university’s catering services.
