A UK firm that makes packaging from seaweed has been named as one of the £1m winners of Prince William's Earthshot climate prize.
The alternative to plastic was developed by London startup Notpla.
The firm was founded by Rodrigo Garcia Gonzalez and Pierre Paslier while they were students at Imperial College London and the Royal College of Art.
The Earthshot Prize gives grants to firms that innovative ideas for the environment that can be scaled-up.
Manufacturing plastic adds to greenhouse gases, and plastic pollution can harm animals and the environment.
Hackney-based Notpla first developed an edible "bubble" called an "Ooho" that could hold water, and then a plastic alternative called "Notpla" made from seaweed.
Its products include a coating for takeaway boxes, film, paper made from seaweed pulp, and a rigid plastic alternative, also made from seaweed.
This year the firm has made more than a million takeaway food boxes for takeaway delivery platform JustEat.
Notpla was one of five companies to be announced as winners at the Earthshot Prize award ceremony in Boston.
The Prince of Wales said the Earthshot winners "prove we can overcome our planet's greatest challenges".
"Alongside tonight's winners and finalists, and those to be discovered over the years to come, it's my hope the Earthshot legacy will continue to grow, helping our communities and our planet to thrive."
Notpla co-founder Mr Paslier said: "When Rodrigo and I started Notpla eight years ago in our student kitchen, we would have never imagined we would be here today.
"No-one wants to live in a world full of plastic waste but it's not too late to act. There's never been a greater time to use natural solutions to solve the plastic challenge."
Plastic pollution is having a global impact, with plastics found from the polar sea-ice to the deepest part of the ocean.
Plastic can damage habitats and be fatal for marine species such as whales.
It can break into small pieces called microplastics and work its way up the food chain.
Earlier this month researchers in Wales found seabirds had been eating plastic and glitter after mistaking them for fish.
Chicks were being fed plastic by adult birds, which could have come from fishing equipment, or from prey.
Recently researchers found thousands of pieces of plastic debris washed up on a remote British island in the South Atlantic.
Litter found on the south-western coast of Ascension Island was traced back to countries including China, Japan and South Africa.
Prince William reveals five Earthshot Prize winners
Prince William unveils Earthshot Prize shortlist
Waste from across world found on remote British island
Is the UK on track to meet its climate targets?
Eighth wave of Russian missiles hits Ukraine
Inside the capital taken hostage by brutal gangs
Top US court weighs gay rights v free speech
Inside the capital taken hostage by brutal gangs
Do you need to change your accent to get a top job? Video
Two generations share bed after Russian advance
Why have so few elderly Chinese been vaccinated?
Should we put a price on nature? Video
'England manager's critics must admit he got it spot on'
How 'incredible' Mbappe upstaged history-maker Giroud
Inside the world of South Korean male beauty pageants
'Tech layoffs won't destroy American dreams of Indians’
Zimbabwe's stunning 80km safari train
The misery of middle managers
The love song that became an anthem
© 2022 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.
