Process developments for a recyclable and compostable all-cellulose multilayer material for packaging

Packaging is necessary to transport and protect food and goods and communicate with the end-user. The food packaging industry, agile to follow consumer expectations and societal changes, is nowadays taking the challenge to improve its sustainability and reduce its environmental impact. CelluWiz project will greatly participate to take the challenge by developing, from TRL 3 up to 5, two innovative processes able to produce all-cellulose, recyclable and compostable, multilayer materials for packaging. A consortium of 5 partners, including 3 RTOs and 2 industrial groups from 4 European countries, has been set up to reach the following objectives: -Develop the MFC wet lamination process. This process assembles, without glue, a board with a layer of MicroFibrillated Celluloses, creating a stratified cellulosic material. The MFC layer confers stiffness, lightweighting, barrier to air, grease, contaminants and oxygen. -Develop a specific version of the chromatogeny coating and grafting process for MFC layers. This ultrafast and efficient solvent free chemical grafting process will be fully revised to create a micron size layer of pure cellulose ester which will bring liquid resistance and water vapour barrier. -Produce 3 proofs of concept (Clamshell, Cup, and Tray) showing performances at least equivalent to market references. -Demonstrate the environmental benefits of the innovative processes and materials and their easy integration into the value chain, by performing LCA and LCC and by submitting the project advances to an advisory group composed of stakeholders of the value chain.
At the end of the project, small pilot machines will be able to prove that the CelluWiz’ materials can offer a competitive alternative to existing multi-layers plastic materials or multi-materials while being renewable, recyclable/recycled in the paper waste value chain and biodegradable.