Since the start of the SISTERS project, NaturePlast has been working with its partners to develop biobased packaging offering better end-of-life performance. This optimisation has been made possible by Carbiolice’s innovative enzymes. When added to PLA (polylactic acid), they make the material compostable at home rather than exclusively in industrial composting.
In the early years of the project, the focus was on PLA formulation. The main objective was to meet the specific requirements of the chosen demonstration packaging, particularly in terms of processing and mechanical behaviour. In particular, this involved overcoming the limitations of PLA, such as its rigidity and brittleness, to ensure that the material withstood use without compromising its quality.
The second issue was the incorporation of enzymes into the PLA matrix. This process required particular attention because the enzymes are sensitive to temperature and mechanical stress. The transformation conditions were therefore optimised to avoid their degradation and maintain their effectiveness throughout the process.
Over the last few months, prototypes have been successfully produced, notably for clamshell packaging, with encouraging results:
No problems arose during the process, and production ran smoothly.
The incorporation of the enzymes proved effective, validating the approach taken to preserve their integrity.
The next steps will be to assess the food safety compliance and shelf life of the packaged foods. These are essential steps in ensuring that the packaging is fit for use.
On the NaturePlast side, we will continue to support our partners in the film packaging process, which presents challenges in meeting the defined specifications. The formulation needs to be optimised to enhance the film’s properties.