Karlijn Sibbel, Chief Innovation Officer at Notpla, will join eXXpedition’s South Pacific research voyage in June to track plastic pollution through ocean and land ecosystems. The mission aims to map the origins and pathways of plastic pollution through spectrometry analysis and land-based investigations, with all data made publicly available. Sibbel emphasizes the importance of material choices and the need for sustainable alternatives to traditional plastics to combat the growing issue of microplastic pollution in the world's oceans.

Notpla, a company specializing in seaweed and plant-based packaging as a substitute for single-use plastic, has replaced over 40 million plastic items and won the Earthshot Prize in 2022. Co-founder Pierre Paslier highlights the need for a shift in how materials are designed to address the plastic pollution crisis. eXXpedition, founded by ocean advocate Emily Penn, welcomes Sibbel's expertise in material innovation and packaging design to contribute to the conversation on combating plastic pollution.