Instant ramen is one of the most popular foods in the world partly because of its sheer convenience; using instant ramen as a base, one can prepare a meal in minutes.

Unfortunately, that convenience has, until now, necessitated the need for plastic. The instant noodles can only stay fresh when protected against air and moisture, so ramen is commonly packaged in a plastic pouch, or, in many cases, a styrofoam cup, which gets wrapped in plastic film. In many instances, the plastic packaging is unrecyclable, adding to the growing and acute plastic pollution crisis.