Notpla supplies cold water-soluble packaging film to Mack for bio-based homecare

07 Aug 2023 --- Mack is introducing Notpla’s water-soluble film from plant extracts to replace polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH/PVA) in homecare and laundry products.

The new plant-based solution replaces conventional fossil-derived and bioplastic-based flexible packaging. Notpla’s water-soluble film allows packaging to dissolve in water, breaking down naturally without releasing microplastics.

Pierre Paslier, co-founder and co-CEO at Notpla, tells Packaging Insights that there are various reasons why the homeware and laundry industries develop and sell unsustainable packaging products but they believe the main one is the lack of investment. 

“Sustainable packaging alternatives require strong financial support to back up research and development. This is an investment some companies may still be reluctant to make, especially if they prioritize short-term financial gains.”

Paslier believes the main issue with unsustainable products in homecare to be a lack of investment.“To drive change toward more sustainable packaging, we need regulation and incentive from governments, consumer awareness and education, innovation and research, and industry collaboration where companies can collectively address packaging challenges. Partnership with third parties, such as the one between Mack and Notpla, is a great way to benefit from a company’s expertise to adopt a circular approach,” explains Paslier.

Reducing environmental burden
A recent study estimated that of the ~11,100 metric tons per year of PVA from laundry and detergent pods in the US, ~6,750 metric tons reach wastewater treatment plants annually. The developed model predicts that ~76,7% of PVA ends up in the environment. The study was led in the US but implicates a global problem.

With the ever-growing concern over plastic pollution and the potential of bioaccumulation of PVA/PVOH in the environment and human bodies, the alliance is said to represent an effort to address the critical environmental challenges posed by traditional packaging materials, says Notpla.

Notpla’s cold water-soluble film is a flexible film made from plant extracts. “The collaboration represents a significant step toward sustainable alternatives to PVA and PVOH, made from fossil fuel and notorious for releasing problematic microplastics residue into the environment. Notpla Film offers an innovative solution that degrades naturally, leaving no trace behind,” asserts Paslier. 

From lab to scale
Paslier explains that one of the main challenges creating Notpla Film was to take the product from lab to industrial scale. Paslier explains that one of the main challenges creating Notpla Film was to take the product from lab to industrial scale. 

“We want Notpla solutions to fit existing packaging machinery to avoid new capex investment for our partners to adopt our packaging solutions. However, adapting natural materials to fit plastic production lines is not easy. It took us tens of iterations to solve the many technical challenges we faced.”

He continues by explaining that the natural packaging provider has had a promising formulation in its lab for years, but it needed to be completely reworked to be commercialized.

“We needed to be able to produce the rolls of film on high-speed machinery without compromising the properties of the material. This required close collaboration between our scientists, chemists, engineers and designers.”

“Mack and their partners have been a true asset during this process, sharing their knowledge and expertise as well as letting us experiment until the product came together,” highlights Paslier. 

Anthony McCourt, co-founder at Mack, adds: “Our partnership with Notpla aligns with our mission to provide customers with a sustainable, eco-friendly cleaning solution that leaves zero legacy on the planet for future generations.”

By Natalie Schwertheim