Since the beginning of the project, NaturePlast has been working with partners of the SISTERS project with the aim of developing biobased packaging with enhanced end-of-life performance. The optimization of end of life was made possible by Carbiolice and its innovative enzymes. Indeed, when added to PLA (polylactic acid), it allows the material to be home compostable instead of industrial compostable.
During the first years of the project, the focus was on the PLA formulations to meet the specific requirement of the chosen demonstrator packaging, particularly in terms of processability and mechanical behavior. This involved addressing inherent challenges with PLA, such as its natural stiffness and brittleness, to ensure that the material could withstand handling and use without compromising quality.
One other key aspect was the incorporation of enzymes into the PLA matrix, a process that required special attention. Indeed, as they are sensitives to temperature and mechanical stress, we meticulously managed processing conditions to prevent their degradation and maintain their effectiveness throughout the process.
During the last months, prototypes were successfully produced notably for the clamshell packaging achieving encouraging results:
- No issues occurred during the process and the production ran smoothly.
- The incorporation of the enzymes was effective, validating the approach taken to preserve enzyme integrity.
The upcoming phases will involve assessing food safety compliance and evaluating the shelf life of these packaging solutions. These are essential steps to ensure the packaging is suitable for applications.
From our side, we will keep helping partners with the film packaging process as it is proving to be challenging to reach the requirements. Some optimization of the formulation is necessary to enhance the film’s properties.