The Danish start-up Cellugy has developed EcoFLEXY, a barrier coating for paper and cardboard that can be recycled or composted with the packaging.
The coating material is produced in a patent-pending white biotechnological process by converting excess sugar. It can be used in combination with paper, cardboard and other bio-based materials and fulfils the requirements of the packaging industry while being fully recyclable and biodegradable.
Next generation barrier coating
„Coated paper and cardboard are commonly used for packaging a variety of consumer goods such as milk, juices, fruit and vegetables,“ comments co-founder Deby Fapyane.
„Polythene is typically used as a coating barrier in such materials. However, this packaging is not biodegradable, compostable or recyclable. EcoFLEXY can be used as a replacement for polyethylene, making it the next generation sustainable barrier coating for the packaging industry.“
The Danish startup, founded in 2018 by Isabel Álvarez-Martos, Deby Fapyane and Paruntungan Sihombing, has just secured €2.38 million in funding from the EU's EIC Accelerator Pilot secured.
Pilot plant planned
The grant will be used to scale up the production of EcoFLEXY, with a focus on technical optimisation strategies, the construction of a pilot plant and relevant pre-deployment activities.
„The world produces around 360 million tonnes of plastic every year, and almost 40 per cent of this is single-use plastic,“ explains Álvarez-Martos. „In Denmark in particular, 40 kilograms of plastic waste are produced per person every year, which ends up directly in the environment. We have founded a company to help solve this problem.“
