London-based company Demeter Bio has revealed a non-toxic coating designed to replace PFAS in textiles and packaging using biomaterials, suitable for applications such as clothing, upholstery, hygiene and packaging.
The Fibrepel technology is said to replicate per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)’ water and stain-repellent properties. Commonly known as ‘forever chemicals’, the substances are often used in food packaging and have been linked to health issues and environmental leakage.
As PFAS regulations have increased across Europe, Demeter Bio says it noticed alternative coatings being developed relied on microplastics, which, despite being PFAS-free, are linked to health and contamination issues and ‘do not perform as well’ against oil and alcohol resistance. The company sought to develop a solution that solves these challenges without compromising the environment.
The company recently won the Environment category of the Royal Society of Chemistry’s Emerging Technologies Competition for the coating, said to deliver a ‘safer and environmentally friendly alternative’ to PFAS.
Rayan Osseiran, co-founder and CEO at Demeter Bio, said: “Forever chemicals aren’t a problem that is going to be solved overnight, but our Fibrepel technology is a step in the right direction. Although our chemistry may need to be altered for different products, our core innovation is an exciting and scalable proposition that can be applied to multiple different industries.”
Last year Cortec unveiled its new EcoBio Barrier Paper, a ‘recyclable, re-pulpable, biodegradable’ barrier paper without PFAS or intentionally added plastics. It can be recycled through normal paper recycling streams and tackles moisture and grease resistance without the risk of plastic or foil pollution.
This month Zerocircle announced its heat-sealable hydrophobic coating for paper cups made from natural polymers, said to provide water and grease resistance for hot beverages without a polyethylene lining or PFAS treatment. The new coating aims to replace polyethylene lamination in conventional paper cups and the fluorochemical treatments used for water and grease resistance.
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