UK company Kelpi has announced that its seaweed-based biomaterial coating has been cleared for food contact by the US Food and Drug Administration, allowing it to be used on paper and board food packaging sold in the US.
Designed as an alternative to fossil-based plastics, the coating can be used in contact with all food types at or below room temperature, including frozen or refrigerated foods. Kelpi says the FDA approval also validates the coating as suitable for personal care and cosmetics packaging.
The news of the US clearance follows an earlier ‘Letter of No Objection’ from the Canadian Bureau of Chemical Safety, building Kelpi’s international regulatory track record and accessible markets.
“Clearing the FDA’s food contact notification process is independent validation of both the safety and the performance of our seaweed-based technology, and it gives our commercial partners the confidence and approval required to now launch Kelpi’s biomaterial coatings in the US market,” said Hugo Adams, CEO of Kelpi.
In June, Kelpi revealed a collaboration with Amcor aiming to integrate its barrier coatings into the company’s fibre-based packaging. Said to be compatible with paper recycling streams, Kelpi says it will support the evaluation of its technology platform within Amcor’s AmFiber fibre-based solutions portfolio.
Earlier this year we reported on noriware’s seaweed-based top seal film for fruit and vegetable packaging, intended to help retailers align with the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation’s single-use plastic ban for fresh produce. The film is believed to reduce CO2 emissions by 89% compared to conventional plastics and avoid the complexity of multi-layer systems by bonding directly to paper and cardboard trays without additional treatments, adhesives, or coating layers.
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