Researchers from Bio-on, an Italian company engaged in the bioplastic sector, and the University of Tampere in Finland have created new biodegradable material using paper and bioplastic for food packaging.
The development is the result of the Minerv PHA Extrusion Coating project, which was launched at the end of 2015.
The project is intended to develop specific, eco-sustainable and fully biodegradable formulations to make laminates with paper without using films. The process involves fusing of biopolymer onto the paper using an extrusion process.
During the project, the researchers developed tetrapak type containers using paper and bioplastic, known as special grade Extrusion Coating (EC) of the Minerv PHA biopolymer developed by Bio-on.
Bio-on chairman Marco Astorri said: "Together we demonstrate that it is possible to develop new functionalities in the use of PHAs biopolymers in dozens of items."
As part of the project, researchers replaced the polyethylene contained in current packaging, maintaining all of its impermeability.
Tampere University of Technology Finland professor Kuusipalo said: "The PHAs made by Bio-on is very versatile and enables us to achieve performances never seen before.
"Being able to do this with completely natural products will put us at the cutting-edge of research and development in the coming decades."
Image: Researchers from Bio-on created the first material to team paper and bioplastic. Photo: courtesy of Bio-on/GlobeNewswire.
