Alex Newnes
Reducing the reliance on single-use plastics with soluble packaging
Reducing the reliance on single-use plastics with soluble packaging
Wales-based entrepreneur Alex Newnes co-founded PlantSea to address the world’s reliance on single-use plastics.
Current alternatives to plastics that are cost effective, meet consumer needs and fit existing manufacturing infrastructure aren’t widely available; Alex hopes to fill this gap by utilising sustainably sourced regenerative materials.
During the Young Innovators programme, Alex successfully secured further grant funding, as well as his first round of private investment. He also developed a prototype of his first product, PlantSea-Pods. The pods will carry personal care products like shampoo, and include a sustainable and biodegradable packaging material that dissolves in water.
Alex intends to build on this progress with the Next Steps Award by patenting, manufacturing and carrying out critical testing of PlantSea-Pods. The goal is to launch the product within the next 12 months.
“The Young Innovators programme really helped to improve my confidence and cement my vision for us as a business. There has been (and still is) so much to learn that it can be overwhelming at times, especially with a to-do list as long as your arm!
“Having someone independent to talk to and act as a sounding board has been helpful and given me the space to consider my personal and professional development,” Alex says.
