Development of Biodegradable Multilayer Paper–Bioplastic Packaging Materials

PROJECT COST:

300 000 $

PRIMA CONTRIBUTION:

120 000 $

PROJECT DETAILS:

The objective of this project is to develop biodegradable polymer coatings and fully biodegradable paper–bioplastic laminates for sustainable packaging applications. This work builds upon a previous project entitled Development of Compostable Bioplastics, in which Emballages Novus participated between 2012 and 2014. At the conclusion of that project, a biodegradable polymer formulation specifically designed for the extrusion-coating process had been successfully developed. The formulation met the stringent rheological requirements of the coating process and was successfully validated through industrial-scale production trials. However, adhesion deficiencies between the polymer coating and the paper substrate were identified at high production speeds. Addressing this issue constitutes the primary objective of the present project. A second challenge is to reduce the production cost of biodegradable resin to develop a commercially viable product while identifying the first target applications for commercialization. To support this objective, a Novus customer has been identified to evaluate the laminates developed in this project to produce the first commercial products, namely multilayer envelopes for postal service applications. This application represents the core focus of the project. A comprehensive characterization of the polymer resin and the developed laminates will be performed to assess their performance and provide the technical data required to support product validation and commercialization.