“Revolutionizing sustainable packaging”: PulPac raises capital to industrialize technology

12 Dec 2019 --- Pulpac, a patented technology that 3D-molds cellulose into strong and stable paper packs, has secured funding to accelerate the global commercialization of its sustainable packaging and disposables. With increased investment raised from its owners WPP, PPI and Dryfiber (PulPac’s staff ownership company), Pulpac will be able to scale up and commercialize its technology, which is licensed to brands and manufacturers. Also, newly appointed board member Marcus Palm enters as a new shareholder.

The technology, which dry-molds pulp into solid packaging and disposable products, is unique and differs from the traditional methods of molding cellulose, offering a replacement for single-use plastics at a lower price than previously possible.

“Across the world, consumers and authorities are calling for viable and more affordable alternatives to single-use plastics,” remarks Linus Larsson, CEO of PulPac and one of the inventors of the technology. “This, of course, presents a great opportunity for PulPac as the first technology to offer sustainable solutions at a lower price than current products, and on a global scale. This increased investment now gives us the opportunity to accelerate our market offer to further meet the demand for our technology.”

PulPac’s global business model is based on creating a licensing business that aligns the goals of PulPac (the technology owner) and its licensees. Today, the company has co-operation and licensing agreements with several customers, including several large global brands operating in various industries.

In a recent interview with PackagingInsights, Larsson explained that scalability is PulPac’s number one challenge. “We need to make PulPac Machinery, which is a combination of available machinery adapted to our process, available on the global market. Lead times to get all equipment in place are long, from an entrepreneurial view, at least. The demand for our technology is massive. That puts high demands on our partners that supply the equipment and machinery.”

“We want to make change happen and make an impact at scale. Our ambition is to disrupt the packaging industry and set a new and sustainable standard for packaging and single-use products. We are at a crucial point in history when it comes to defining our future. We need to do a lot of things to become truly sustainable and circular. I believe Innovation such as PulPac will play an important role in that future.”

Together with its clients, PulPac is now setting up production capabilities in Europe and the US. As PulPac is licensing the technology, there are no geographical limitations and the company aims to be global within a couple of years, Larsson says. Products made from PulPac’s technology, including coffee pods, coffee cup lids and trays, will be launched throughout 2020.

By Joshua Poole