"This project will assess and seek to optimise the performance of surface treatments for a biodegradable packaging solution to be used as an alternative to plastic packaging for fast moving consumer goods - including dry foods, bottled drinks and household products. Optimisation of the surface treatment will enable replacement of PET with moulded paper pulp containers. The project builds on considerable work to date that has established a solution for the manufacture of the containers and the development of a closure solution from the same paper pulp material for whole product recyclability/compostability. This project focuses on developing and optimising the surface treatment to meet all regulatory, functional and economic performance criteria."

This project will undertake research into the development of a prototype recyclable, biodegradable packaging solution which provides an alternative to plastic packaging. Focus initially will be on replacement of PET in containers with moulded paper pulp. The project builds on considerable research work to date that has established a solution for the manufacture of containers and for their coating in order to hold liquids. To be commercially viable, the whole product needs to be recyclable/compostable, hence effort is required to establish a sustainable closure solution and associated manufacturing process that can meet the production volume, product accuracy and quality standards required by the FMCG sector at a comparable cost. NRL will work throughout the project with key industry stakeholders to ensure a market acceptable solution is devised.