International chemical business 2M Group of Companies has launched a new packaging-focused business unit, Sustainable Packaging Technologies, to promote its growing portfolio of biomaterial technologies and fulfil consumers’ desire for alternatives to virgin plastics.
Sustainable Packaging Technologies plans to utilize the knowledge of Group’s materials sciences company, Banner Chemicals, in an effort to enable brands to meet the growing consumer demand for biobased packaging and offer ‘plug and play’ replacements for traditional plastic across a range of consumer products.
Led by business unit head James Nelson, Sustainable Packaging Technologies is headquartered at its manufacturing site in Milton Keynes, UK. The company aims to build a portfolio of biomaterial technologies and solutions that can be integrated into existing packaging manufacturing processes.
Sustainable Packaging Technologies has been supported by strategic partnerships and investments from both Innovate UK and SSPP government funding, to assist the business to scale up technologies that are ‘environmentally and commercially conscious’.
As part of its portfolio, 2M Group of Companies is the exclusive licence partner to deploy Xampla’s Morro Coating in Europe. The plastic-free material, made from natural plant polymers, is said to be fully biodegradable and able to be recycled in existing waste streams.
Apparently, Morro Coating is safe for food contact, offering high strength, grease, and oxygen barrier properties which make it ideal as a replacement to plastic. Under its agreement, Sustainable Packaging Technologies is responsible for Morro Coating’s production and distribution across Europe, producing multi-tonnes of material at its Milton Keynes facility.
Last month saw Swedish greentech company Lignin Industries AB announce the mass commercialisation of its Renol technology, a biobased material developed from lignin, often found in trees. Lignin is said to provide structure and aid in water retention while preventing toxins from entering.
Also in June, independent McDonald’s franchisee Arcos Dorados Holdings stated it would be applying J&J Green Paper’s ‘all-natural’ barrier coating to its paper food packaging in a bid to phase out plastics, PFAS chemicals, and consumer waste in the fast food sector. J&J Green Paper’s JANUS coating is reportedly 100% biodegradable, home-compostable, repulpable, and recyclable.
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