PulPac and HS Manufacturing partner on bio-based barrier tech for Dry Molded Fiber

12 Jul 2021 --- PulPac is revealing a cooperation with HS Manufacturing Group (HSMG) for developing cutting-edge barrier technologies adapted for its Dry Molded Fiber technology. 

Dry Molded Fiber is a patented manufacturing technology for the circular economy. The production process uses renewable pulp and cellulose resources to produce low cost, high performance, fiber-based packaging and single-use products.

PulPac and other fiber-based packaging pioneers expect demand for their solutions to continue increasing after the EU Single-Use Plastics Directive came into force on July 3.

The company reports that Dry Molded Fiber generates up to 90 percent lower CO2 footprint at a similar cost to plastic.

Moreover, the technology is reportedly up to ten times as efficient as conventional fiber molding invented over 100 years ago and eliminates the need for valuable water resources in the defibration process.

“We are proud to be a driving part in sustainable chemistry for this breakthrough production process,” says Kris Burton, chief operating officer at HSMG.

“It could be the key to cost-effectively replacing single-use plastics at scale with cellulose-based products – combined with our oil, grease and water barriers aimed to replace plastics and fluorochemicals,” says Kris Burton, chief operating officer at HSMG.The partners are focused on refining, developing and testing HSMG’s Protēan barrier technologies for industrial-scale application.

Planet-friendly barrier tech
The cooperation is focused on refining, developing and testing HSMG’s Protēan barrier technologies platform for industrial-scale application methods, enabling the integration of hydro- or oleophobic barriers adapted to the Dry Molded Fiber process. 

“PulPac’s development is rapidly progressing, and we see much value in partnering together with other technology leaders throughout the value chain to further empower the transformation to Dry Molded Fiber from plastics,” notes Ove Larsson, chief technology officer at PulPac.

“The cooperation with HSMG is a driver with exciting solutions coming to the market around sustainable chemicals, barriers, and materials.”

Grease and moisture resistance
The project aims to develop several types of “completely sustainable packaging products” with high barrier properties for protection against, for example, grease and moisture.

• PulPac has identified several advantages in HSMG’s barrier technology portfolio, including:
• Sustainable OGR-barrier (bio-based, biodegradable, recyclable and compostable)
• Water-barrier with multiple application techniques
• Possible to transport at 100 percent dry content

Combinable and versatile
“HSMG’s chemistry and application methods show very promising opportunities to enable good and sustainable barrier properties in Dry Molded Fiber and could especially fit well into packaging and products for the quick service restaurants,” explains Dr. Niklas Westerberg, technical lead on chemistry and material development at PulPac.

In other PulPac developments, the company recently expanded its partnership with AR Packaging, bridging volume capacity to fast-track the cost-effective, plastic-replacement fiber products to market using the new PulPac PU300 production platform.

Stora Enso has also partnered with HSMG on plant-based barrier coatings for formed fiber products.

By Joshua Poole