Notpla expands seaweed-coated packaging to 160 Dutch QSR outlets

NETHERLANDS – UK-based sustainable packaging innovator Notpla has scaled its seaweed-based coating technology across 160 outlets of Dutch quick-service restaurant chain Kwalitaria, marking one of the largest rollouts of plastic-free coated foodservice packaging in the Netherlands to date.

Under the partnership, Kwalitaria has introduced fully plastic-free trays for fries and snacks, replacing conventional plastic-lined paper formats.

The trays incorporate Notpla’s seaweed-based coating, making them home compostable and free from plastic and microplastics. Distribution and logistics are being managed by Dutch packaging supplier Conpax.

“For us, this partnership is about more than replacing a material,” said Pierre Paslier, CEO and co-founder of Notpla.

“It shows that plastic-free packaging can work at scale in real-world QSR settings, without compromising on performance, food safety, or customer experience.”

The Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate in the Netherlands has confirmed that the trays are fully plastic-free, placing them outside the scope of the EU’s Single-Use Plastics (SUP) Regulation.

This regulatory positioning provides QSR operators with a viable pathway to reduce compliance burdens while meeting sustainability targets.

According to Notpla, the environmental impact of the nationwide rollout is significant, with an estimated 102.5 metric tonnes of CO₂ emissions saved annually and 6.9 metric tonnes of plastic waste eliminated each year.

Quick-service restaurants remain one of the most challenging segments for sustainable packaging adoption due to high throughput volumes, grease resistance requirements and strict food safety standards.

Notpla said the Kwalitaria deployment demonstrates that bio-based barrier coatings can meet operational demands in high-volume, fast-paced foodservice environments.

“Frontrunners should be put in the spotlight,” said Wilco Wieling, commercial director at Conpax.

“Kwalitaria is the first cafeteria organization in the Netherlands to convert its fries and snack packaging to Notpla-coated products that are completely plastic-free and therefore fall outside the SUP scheme.”

The expansion builds on Notpla’s recent €4 million (US$4.66 million) Horizon Europe funding award, secured alongside 14 European partners to scale fully natural, home compostable coffee cups without plastic coatings.

The company has also supplied seaweed-based packaging to Imperial College London, where its founders originally began researching alternatives to single-use plastics.

As European regulators and brands intensify efforts to eliminate plastic-lined paper and curb microplastic pollution, scalable bio-based coatings are gaining traction as a commercially viable alternative across the foodservice sector.

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