GreenPack

Project start 1 November 2014. Completion 30 April 2016

The bio-based society can come another step forward if we can replace plastic bottles with 100% biodegradable paper bottles, which degrade even if they end up in nature.

The GreenPack bottle is made of paper, and may be formed in all 3-D shapes. If the challenge of achieving 100% biodegradable bottle succeeds, it will make a significant difference to the existing packaging solutions.

The majority of plastic bottles worldwide is produced from petroleum-based plastics, and represents a huge waste problem globally, where every year, 1.5 million tons of trash is generated [1], much of which ends up in nature. In Denmark, the industry is efficient in collecting and recycling plastic, but private households are not. We do, however, have an effective recycling system for plastic beverage bottles for water and soda that come from households, while for example milk packaging goes directly into the waste container.

The GreenPack packaging product will be a "game changer" in beverage packaging. The bottle should replace plastic bottles, and challenge also bottles of bioplastics, not least in terms of degradability. The product should help to reduce waste and pollution of plastic packaging waste that is disposed of in nature. A 100% sustainable packaging concept will be of great importance also in the global market, and the companies that are "first movers", will benefit from this new type of product in the food and beverage industry.

Challenge

The consortium behind the GreenPack project plans to replace disposable plastic bottles with a 100% biodegradable bottle that will compost if thrown out into nature. Today, the bio-plastic bottles, of which for example, cola has come up with solutions with a high content of bioplastics, are not degradable when thrown out into nature.

The GreenPack bottle/container targets drinks like mineral water, juice and the milk segment. The concept is based on the mold forming process, in combination with a 3-D-molding technique that makes it possible to manufacture the bottle in all sorts of designs, in one piece. The challenge will include finalizing the concept by using new techniques for coating and manufacturing a smooth and strong bottle that meets the required specifications.

Danish Technological Institute is the project manager and helps with product development and testing. Partners include Danish EcoXpac (head partner), Fiber-X (Sweden), AgroTech, as well as a very important customer (Sweden).

Main activities

• development of sustainable technologies including coating solutions so the GreenPack end product can meet the required specifications for mineral water, juice, milk, etc. Efforts are aimed at both the bottle/container and the cork/lid.
• demonstration of new technologies in a pilot plant, which should be a model for eventual scaling up to a  full-scale plant.
• testing of the product in cooperation with end users.

More information

You are very welcome to contact the project manager Bodil Pallesen for further information.

Facts

Project Title: GreenPack - Technologies for Green Biodegradable Cellulose-based Packaging.
Project Period: November 1, 2014 – April 30, 2016
Granted amount: Total budget for the entire consortium of gross 6.1 million DKK, and grant amounts of  3.136 million DKK.
The GreenPack project has received support from EUREKA EUROSTARS and The Innovation Fund (Danish partners) and VINNOVA (Swedish partners).

[1] Foods & Water Watch, 2007, US, ”Take Back the Tap”; www.foodandwaterwatch.org