Challenge: Water-soluble polymers are used in a wide range of applications, primarily in single use packaging. Current polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) cast films being hygroscopic require water and oxygen barrier secondary packaging, leading to expensive advanced packaging requirements, being difficult to recycle.
One key application area is Machine-Dishwash detergent, primary and secondary packaging. The challenge of the manufacturer is meeting growing demand from retailers and consumers to provide detergent capsules meeting increasingly strict safety and environmental standards whilst reducing plastic packaging. A simultaneous driver for this change has been stricter legislation, requiring use of recycled polymers for packaging and other products.
Current soluble polymer products (detergents) are expensive due to high PVOH content, being highly hygroscopic they require multi-layered barrier protective packaging. New popular eco wash cycles can lead to incomplete dissolution and poor cleaning performance using traditional technology. Additionally, consumers are becoming very price conscious when purchasing what is a significant household product expenditure, creating pressure on detergent manufacturers to provide cheaper, more effective solutions.
Opportunity: our patented PVOH formulation incorporates a high sodium chloride content, resulting in a lower price per kg, increased solubility rates, improved stabilisation to atmospheric water, with 40% advancement in moulding time, reducing manufacturing costs.
Target market is the Machine-Dishwash packaging subsector of the £336m water-soluble PVOH film market, of which the consumer segment accounts for nearly 59%. Market penetration will be gained initially working with Company X for a product launch in the UK prior to a new Machine-Dishwash format launch across Europe thereafter.
Our overall objectives are to utilise our formulations to make both primary and secondary detergent packaging, eliminating the requirement for expensive barrier secondary packaging, and introduce the disposal of secondary packaging with additional cleaning function in a household dishwasher.
Our product offers a credible and viable alternative to current polymer films. Our concept has been tested and validated in the detergent market with Company X, with superior resistance to atmospheric humidity up to 85RH, with very encouraging early interest in our beta version.
To fully maximise the potential of our product, we must further develop the polymer to include additional benefits to the user. Providing an added cleaning function for the secondary packaging - active cleaning agents released when the secondary packaging is dissolved in a Machine-Dishwash Cleaning cycle, ensuring this self-removing packaging conforms to customer requirements. Self-removing packaging will open markets for other applications in the detergent sector.
