In a recent press release, Suzano announced that Suzano Ventures, the corporate capital arm of Suzano, the world's largest market pulp producer, has made a strategic investment into the Canadian materials science startup. Bioform Technologies.
The press release states that, "The investment provides up to US$5 million towards the company's seed round, enabling it to accelerate the development of its novel bio-based plastic alternatives. The products can be manufactured through modified industrial processes already used in the pulp and paper sector.
Bioform's proprietary technology rapidly produces wood pulp-reinforced hydrogels to create high-performance plastic alternatives, which can be made using Suzano's wood pulp fibre as a key input. Bioform's materials have the potential to be home compostable or recycled through existing paper recycling processes and do not require fossil-based inputs. The technology is highly versatile and has a number of applications where it could replace conventional single-use plastics, including paper recyclable thermoformable films for packaging applications and compostable heat-sealable films for pouches, agriculture, and garbage bags.
With the potential to offer an 80 percent lower carbon footprint than conventional single-use plastics, Bioform's technology has similar or enhanced product performance to conventional plastics in areas such as tensile strength and permeability for oxygen or water vapor."
In a recent press release from DS Smith, it announced that it recently launched Shop.able Carriers Recyclable box solution for transporting groceries.
The press release states that "Shop.able Carriers, a line of recyclable, reusable boxes for supermarkets that replaces plastic shopping bags, are now available to deliver consumers a more sustainable and convenient packaging solution for everyday grocery shopping. The durable, stackable boxes - designed and manufactured by sustainable fiber-based packaging leader DS Smith - feature the company's patented, food-safe, and water-resistant Greencoat® coating technology, giving consumers an affordable alternative to hard-to-recycle plastic bags. Shop.able Carriers are reusable, moisture-resistant, modular, and 100% recyclable made from renewable resources.
Shop.able's first user, a regional U.S. supermarket chain, is on pace to replace up to 100,000 plastic bags in its first year of selling the boxes in its stores. Supermarkets can create custom branded boxes, as well as incorporate sponsored logos and messaging from other partner brands. Individual Shop.able Carrier boxes sell at retail price points similar to reusable plastic totes, with each box having the capacity to replace between 5 and 7 plastic bags. Along with having them in checkout retail sales, supermarkets can also use Shop.able Carriers as a loyalty program benefit in online curbside pick-up orders."
In a recent press release from Aquapak Polymers, it announced that British Crisp Co. revolutionizes crisp packaging with the UK's first fully recyclable paper packet.
The press release states that "The new packet, developed in partnership with Evopak, a manufacturer of sustainable paper based flexible packaging, uses an innovative polymer, HydropolTM , developed by Aquapak, instead of conventional plastic. A very thin layer of vacuum deposited aluminium keeps the crisps fresh but doesn't impact the recyclability of the packets.
HydropolTM can be recycled, re-pulped, composted and is distinctively compatible with anaerobic digestion. Furthermore, if unintentionally released into the natural environment, HydropolTM which is non-toxic and marine safe - will dissolve and subsequently biodegrade. It does not break down into harmful microplastics, so it still has a safe end-of-life even if it is not disposed of as intended. It is already being used in products such as reusable, heat sealable paper mailing bags.
The packets have been certified as recyclable in standard paper recycling mills by OPRL, the only evidence-based on pack recycling labelling scheme. This means they feature the green recycle logo and can be disposed of in consumer curbside collections along with other paper material, unlike other crisp packets."
We'll keep you apprised of further developments.
Helen Roush is Executive Vice President of Paperitalo Publications.
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