Objective
The extensive use of plastic in packaging is a growing global challenge. Over 30% of the 78 million tons produced annually ends up polluting our environment. There is not a great alternative for the plastic yet in the mass market: biodegradable bioplastics degrade too slowly and non-biodegradable bioplastics pollute the world with microplastic.
Finnish SME Sulapac has created the most sustainable packaging solution in the world. It is 100% biodegradable and contains 0% microplastics. Sulapac® has all the benefits of plastic, but without the waste problem. The renewable wood-based material has a low carbon footprint, yet it is similar to plastic in terms of price, formability and functionality.
Sulapac® is a fast biodegrading water, oil and oxygen resistant material solution. It is suitable for mass manufacturing of rigid and flexible packaging such as jars and tubes. It can also be used for light weight packaging. Sulapac is a real alternative to plastics used in high-volume cosmetics and food industries.
The aim of the SULACHANGE project is to finalise our product offering to capture the full potential of our unique material and prepare for global scale market introduction. We will optimise our recipe and barrier coatings for high volume cosmetic and food industries, apply for required certificates, do customer pilots and create a licensing model. As a result of the project, the company will grow to annual revenues of €90 million within a few years.
Fields of science
- engineering and technologyother engineering and technologiesfood technology
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuelsrenewable energy
- engineering and technologymaterials engineeringcoating and films
- engineering and technologyindustrial biotechnologybiomaterialsbioplastics
- agricultural sciencesagriculture, forestry, and fisheriesforestry
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
SME-2 - SME instrument phase 2Coordinator
00120 Helsinki
Finland
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.