Six international consumer goods manufacturers have joined forces in the new PaperFlex Consortium. Colgate-Palmolive, Mars, Nestlé, PepsiCo, Procter & Gamble and Unilever want to jointly drive forward the development of flexible paper-based packaging. The consortium was initiated by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and is supported by (Re)Set.
The focus is on alternatives to flexible plastic packaging. The consortium is focusing in particular on markets where such packaging is widespread, but where collection and recycling systems are lacking at the same time. Solutions are to be developed that are recyclable with improved infrastructure and can biodegrade if they inadvertently enter the environment.
Joint research into coatings
In the coming years, the participating companies intend to initiate and fund joint research and development projects. Plans include trials with biodegradable coatings and other technologies, amongst other things. The focus is also on ensuring product protection and shelf life, as well as improving the processing of paper-based materials on existing production lines.
„Responsibly developed paper-based flexible packaging solutions do not yet exist at the required performance, scale and cost,“ says Sander Defruyt, Strategy Lead for Plastics at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. The consortium is intended to help develop and scale such solutions more quickly.
The participating companies will retain their respective packaging strategies and continue to make their decisions independently of one another.
Focus on small, flexible packaging
The background, in particular, is small-format flexible plastic packaging such as sachets, wrappers and pouches. According to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, flexible plastic packaging is among the fastest-growing types of plastic packaging worldwide. At the same time, solutions for recycling them are not yet widely available.
The basis of the cooperation is a previously published report by the Foundation. It describes paper-based alternatives as a potential measure against plastic waste from small, flexible packaging. Prerequisites include recyclability, biodegradability, and responsible sourcing and production of the paper fibres.
The PaperFlex Consortium is open to further companies. In particular, consumer goods manufacturers that use small-format flexible packaging are invited to participate.
Source: PaperFlex Consortium
