Page 70 - Plastics News September 2016

PRODUCT NEWS
Aquapack develops 100%
recyclable & biodegradable
packaging polymer
UK based biodegradable plastic packaging materials
developer, Aquapak Polymers Ltd, has developed a
process to produce a multifunctional packaging polymer
that is claimed to be both 100% recyclable and 100%
biodegradable in standard waste management facilities.
The company explained that the process is currently at
demonstration phase and with a full-scale production
factory under construction. It added that it is now in talks
with retailers, local authorities and the waste sector to
explore the material’s potential as a sustainable alternative
to conventional and bioplastic ?lms. According to Aquapak
Polymers its patented process means that its PVOH polymer
can be easily recovered from materials sorting facilities.
When treated in water it dissolves and can then be
recovered
from
solution
and
repelletised, ready to be returned to manufacturers in a
closed loop system. The development is said to bypass the
dif?culties of separating ?lm from rigid plastic, and could
replace multilayer packaging on a wide range of consumer
products. “As a packaging material it outperforms both
cornstarch and many conventional plastics, while also
overcoming the usual barriers to recovery and recycling,”
commented Mike Everard, managing director of Aquapak
Polymers Ltd.
The company said that initial tests indicate that its PVOH
polymer is benign in the environment and non-toxic to
marine life, so if recovery for recycling is not required
the dissolved polymer can be washed away safely with
wastewater. Being FDA-approved it is suitable for packaging
food products, overcoming a major hurdle for the market
penetration of recycled plastics. Detailed assessments
with a number of key waste management operators were
said to have shown that the polymer degrades quickly in
anaerobic digestion (AD), meaning depackaging is not a
pre-requisite to digestion. Its rapid degradability in the
AD process means it could have signi?cant implications
for household food waste collections as well as the food
manufacturing and packaging sectors. “We are currently in
Plastics News | S e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 6 70
talks with a number of key market sectors,” said Everard.
“It’s an exciting time for Aquapak as we demonstrate to
manufacturers and brand owners that they can now have
a strong monolayer plastic that performs well, looks
great, and is environmentally sustainable.” Aquapak
Ltd’s polymer is available as a 6µm - 200µm monolayer
and is claimed to provide a high performance barrier for
air, solvents and oils, while being puncture resistant and
performing well in drop tests.
Remind-A-Cap bags the
Plastics Caps & Closures
Innovation Award
Remind-A-Cap has won
the Plastics Caps &
Closures Innovation Award
at the Plastics Caps &
Closures 2016 conference
August 31 in Chicago.
REMIND-A-CAP™ is an easy-
to-use packaging innovation With a built-in dial, that
could be manually adjusted to indicate when to take the
medication. It’s a simple, affordable product that is easily
implemented into the work?ow process of the pharmacy,”
Ramoundos said. “It helps people remember by simply
telling them when to take their medication next.” Remind-
A-Cap was selected from a group of three ?nalists that
were represented at the Chicago conference. The others
were: Daisy brand’s sour cream squeeze container created
by AptarGroup Inc., represented by Dave Johnson, global
strategic business development manager; and FunLPro
Technology LLC’s line of products that feature extendable
funnels built into closures to help avoid spillage, represented
by CEO Bryan Crosby. A study showed that those using Remind-
A-Cap ?lled their prescriptions more regularly, resulting in 1.4
more re?lls per year. That means more money for retailers as
well as pharmaceutical makers. Remind-A-Cap’s Ramoundos
told the audience there also is a clear business reason why
pharmacies should adopt his product line. People don’t often
notice how important a simple cap or closure is to the success
of a product. I’m glad our team and our judges were able to
shine a spotlight on three innovative caps in three disparate
industries that improve function and ease of use,”