Mondi and the German company traceless collaborated on the development of biobased coatings based on by-products from the agricultural industry. This innovative bio-circular coating is the first of its kind and can replace traditional plastic coating.
The demand for alternatives to plastic in packaging solutions is increasing and this new coating responds directly to that demand: made from renewable, plant-based materials, namely residual flows from the agricultural industry, it eliminates the need for fossil raw materials. The traceless life cycle assessment showed that using traceless® material results in a total greenhouse gas savings of 76% from source to disposal, when the material is used to replace virgin PET. If only the production and waste processing phase is taken into account, these savings amount to 95%. In addition, the material is home compostable certified by DIN CERTCO according to NF T51-800.
The collaboration between Mondi and traceless started in 2021 and brought together global expertise: Mondi's knowledge in paper coating and packaging solutions, and traceless' expertise in material solutions based on natural polymers. The coating granules are produced at traceless' pilot plant and are applied to Mondi's kraft paper at the company's R&D center for further testing in the laboratories. Subsequent industrial-scale production will take place at a designated factory in Hamburg.
Different products require different barriers in their packaging and the coated kraft paper solution is rigorously tested for different packaging purposes, to ensure it can be used in different end markets: the in-depth testing has confirmed that kraft paper coated with traceless® is resistant to water, oxygen and bold, while offering good printing capabilities for different customers. At the same time, the goal is to develop a solution that is also recyclable in existing recycling streams throughout Europe. The properties of the bio-based coating are currently being further optimized to make the solution suitable for various packaging applications in various end markets such as eCommerce, frozen food, high-fat and low-fat foods. The goal is to achieve a packaging solution that can be widely applied across industries and significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions over the packaging life cycle.
Marko Schuster, COO Functional Paper and Foils at Mondi: “We are always looking at the next steps in creating truly circular packaging, taking into account our customers' demands and our own innovative spirit. This is a fantastic example of how we can join our R&D forces to stay one step ahead in the sustainable packaging game, contributing to a circular economy.”
Anne Lamp, CEO and co-founder of traceless, adds: “Our mission is to make pollution and waste a thing of the past by using materials that have a positive impact. The journey so far has been exciting and educational, and has taught us valuable lessons in ensuring our packaging provides excellent protection. By working with Mondi – the team, the machines, the products and processes – we are adapting our existing expertise in innovative biomaterials to reduce plastic barrier coatings in packaging. The aim is to create a truly suitable product that works for the widest possible range of applications and industries.”
Photo copyright: traceless
Source: mondigroup.com
