Project description
Innovative coating system for sustainable plastic packaging
A small fraction (6 %) of plastic packaging produced annually is recycled, because many products require packaging with a barrier effect that adequately protects the product. Often, multi-material systems or special coatings are used, but they can only occasionally fulfil the needs of all industries simultaneously. Moreover, they render packaging more expensive and non-recyclable, and often contain perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which harm the environment. IonKraft’s coating system facilitates the creation of sustainable, fully recyclable plastic packaging that meets industry barrier standards while using cost-effective, recyclable materials. Funded by the European Research Council, the IonKraftCoating project seeks to expedite the commercialisation of these coating machines, making a substantial contribution to the EU Plastic Strategy and the circular economy.
Objective
Only 6% of the plastic packaging produced yearly is recycled. A reason for this is that many products demand a barrier effect of their packaging for adequate product protection. Multi-material systems or special coatings are often used to meet products’ barrier requirements. Yet, they fail to meet all industries’ barrier requirements at once, make packaging more expensive and non-recyclable, and make use of PFAS which are inevitably spread to the environment.
IonKraft has developed a proprietary coating system to apply high performing coatings that meet all industries' barrier requirements at once, while making sustainable barrier plastic packaging (lighter, fully recyclable and reusable, and enabling the use of recyclate) in a cost-effective manner.
The EIC will allow to accelerate the commercialisation of our coating machines. We envision 250M sustainable barrier containers produced globally by 2028, making a major contribution to the EU Plastic Strategy and the circular economy.
Fields of science
Programme(s)
- HORIZON.3.1 - The European Innovation Council (EIC) Main Programme
Funding Scheme
HORIZON-EIC-ACC-BF - HORIZON EIC Accelerator Blended FinanceCoordinator
52074 AACHEN
Germany
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.