A global FMCG company that manufactures a wide range of consumer products is seeking to remove the use of single-use plastic ingredients from its product portfolio as part of its ongoing sustainability programmes. However, the plastic ingredients currently used in their products provide several important functions, including rigidity and moisture resistance. Replacing these plastics with alternatives such as recyclable paper-based materials means that some of these functionalities are lost. In order to overcome these limitations, they are seeking technologies that can be used to strengthen paper.

They are therefore actively searching for food-grade paper stiffening and moisture resistant technologies that would comply with the EU Single Use Plastics Directive (i.e. not be classed as single use plastic). Potential solutions could include but are not limited to:

• Agents, additives, binders, barrier coatings that can be applied onto paper material to increase the stiffness/rigidity, sealing or moisture resistance of paper

• Specialty-grade papers that deliver good product integrity including stiffness and rigidity

• Bio-based alternatives to plastic films and fluoropolymers in paper, board and fibre coatings

• Technologies used in industries such as food service (e.g. single-use paper/fibre-based tableware, cutlery, straws with the ability to withstand liquid for a period of time)

• Technologies used in FMCG / retail industries (e.g. single-use packaging)

• Sustainable materials classed as non-plastic that could be processed in the same way as paper (e.g. high speed manufacturing processes for shaping, gluing and cutting)

- Biodegradability or compostability is a bonus but not a requirement

- Bioplastic-based solutions are out of scope

Ideally, technologies would be commercially available globally or close to commercialisation within the next 18 months. However, early stage technologies that meet the criteria would still be of interest.

This company is a large and well established business with excellent market access. They are searching for companies developing and supplying solutions to meet their current and future product demands, and so this represents an excellent business opportunity for a new and ongoing supplier relationship. They are also open to R&D collaborations with companies that have interesting technologies meeting their criteria but may need further help with development.

- Link to the opportunity: https://strategicallies.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/RGB-Profile.pdf

Third-party opportunity identified by ACCIÓ. If you are interested in this opportunity please send me a message indicating what opportunity you are interested in.

https://openchallenges.accio.gencat.cat/marketplace/opportunities/UGFydGljaXBhdGlvbk9wcG9ydHVuaXR5OjQ2MDAx