Danimer Scientific and Kemira join forces on biodegradable coating for paper and board

14 Dec 2020 --- Kemira is forming an exclusive partnership with Danimer Scientific to develop biodegradable aqueous barrier coatings for more environmentally sustainable paper and board products in 2021.

Danimer Scientific’s Nodax PHA is a commercial, fully bio-based alternative to polyethylene (PE) for manufacturing recyclable paper and board products from renewable sources.

The companies are aiming to manufacture coatings for limited commercial applications before exploring broader production options.

Coating in a paper or board product, such as a coffee cup, forms a barrier to keep moisture and grease from leaking through the cup material.

“Danimer will contribute its polymer knowledge of PHA,” John Moore, senior vice president, business development, at Danimer Scientific, tells PackagingInsights. 

“Kemira will contribute its knowledge of how to formulate these polymers in a dispersion that works for specific substrates and application equipment.”

“Also, Kemira is a recognized leader in paper chemistry and already has a strong presence in these markets.”

Fully biodegradable in soil and water
The partners are developing a coating and surface treatment to ensure paper and board items are fully biodegradable in soil and water.

Danimer Scientific’s biopolymer – Nodax PHA – is renewably sourced from plant seeds, such as canola and soy, and is 100 percent bio-based.Danimer Scientific‘s PHA plant in Winchester, Kentucky, US.

“PHA, like cellulose, is enzymatically degradable. This means paper substrates coated with PHA can be repulped and recycled,” notes Moore.

“If the products are disposed of with food waste, the materials will naturally degrade along with all the other materials.”

Kemira points out most paper and board products from cups to food packaging are currently coated with fossil fuel-based PE, hindering the recyclability of the products and creating plastic waste.

In 2019, a Kemira-commissioned consumer survey found over half of consumers in the US, China, Germany and Finland said they would be willing to pay more for renewable food packaging.

PHA enters play
European Bioplastics (EUBP) recently predicted 36 percent growth in the global bioplastics market over the next five years, spurred by the expansion of innovative biopolymers like PHA.

The market share of PHAs has continued to grow since the biopolymer entered the market, notes EUBP. Production capacities are set to increase almost sevenfold in the next five years.

The production of PLA will also continue to grow due to new investments in PLA production sites in China, the US and Europe.

“PHAs display special biodegradability properties that make this group of biopolymers very attractive for a great variety of applications,” Oliver Buchholz, EUBP communications manager, tells PackagingInsights.

“In the case of PLA, we see continuously strong demand for this bio-based, biodegradable polymer. To meet the demand for PLA, there have been several investments into production capacities over the last 1-1.5 years, most recently in Europe.”

In September, Danimer Scientific and PSI, a global manufacturer of non-barrier sealant films, partnered to create bio-based, home-compostable films.

PSI is using Danimer Scientific’s Nodax PHA to produce packaging films that reliably degrade without leaving behind harmful microplastics.

Next stop commercialization
Kemira and Danimer Scientific will continue testing the PHA coating for cup and foodservice applications with the expectation of a limited commercial rollout in 2021, shares Moore.

“We have proven the technology works well on existing equipment, but scale will allow us to offer the materials at more competitive pricing.”

“PHA is a proven biodegradable alternative to fossil fuel-based materials. Partnering with Kemira will enable us to expand to paper applications, delivering a repulpable and biodegradable material without sacrificing the product quality brands and consumers expect.”

The global barrier market is expected to grow by around 8 percent annually, indicates Kemira. 

The global sustainable chemical solution player’s dispersion barrier business is forecast to reach €500 million (US$608 million) in revenue by 2030, with a reported growth rate of around 10 percent per annum.

In October, Danimer Scientific and Live Oak Acquisition signed a business combination agreement resulting in Danimer Scientific becoming a public company. The combined company will be renamed Danimer Scientific and is expected to remain listed on the NYSE under a new ticker symbol. Danimer will continue to be led by Stephen E. Croskrey, CEO.

By Joshua Poole