Notpla has been selected by Dutch quick-service restaurant chain Kwalitaria to supply seaweed-coated trays and containers intended to replace plastic-based packaging.

The initiative is supported by packaging distributor Conpax, which will handle logistics for the rollout.

Kwalitaria will introduce trays for fries and snacks that use Notpla’s seaweed-derived coating.

According to the company, these trays are fully free of plastic and microplastics and can be composted at home.

The new packaging will be introduced in all 160 Kwalitaria outlets across the Netherlands.

The project aims to observe how Notpla’s coating technology performs under typical high-volume conditions in quick-service restaurants.

Notpla chief revenue officer Lise Honsinger said: “This partnership shows that plastic-free packaging can perform in real-world QSR settings, at scale. This partnership sets a new benchmark.” 

Conpax’s involvement will support the distribution of the trays across Kwalitaria’s network.

Recently, Notpla and 14 other European partners have secured €4m ($4.66m) in Horizon Europe funding.

The funding will be used to further develop plastic-free disposable coffee cups that are fully home compostable and contain no plastic coatings.

In January, Imperial College London in the UK collaborated with Notpla to introduce home-compostable, seaweed-based packaging at its campus food and drink outlets.

The move is aimed at minimising single-use plastic throughout its campus catering services.

It is part of Imperial’s Sustainable Imperial strategy, which seeks to deliver evidence-based responses to climate change and promote the adoption of new technologies.