Tipa and Aquapak combine forces on compostable film solutions to close market gaps

09 Aug 2022 --- Tipa and Aquapak are partnering to meet the growing industry demand for new circular packaging solutions. Tipa’s biopolymers and Aquapak’s Hydropol water-soluble polymers are anticipated to deliver a wider range of research-led materials to markets where there are currently no workable alternatives. The partners’ newest solution is a high-barrier, PVDC-free compostable film for packaging.

Daphna Nissenbaum, CEO and co-founder at Tipa, says: “We are at the forefront of product development using high-quality material solutions – but there is an urgent need to drive more innovation in the industry.”

“The collaboration with Aquapak will create a broad range of compostable solutions and will open doors to combine our skills, amplify the voices supporting organic recycling solutions and introduce more viable alternatives for consumers.”

Tasks and steps 
Tipa has developed a range of high-end compostable films and laminates, including its recent release of T.LAM 608, a home-compostable transparent solution for food packaging.

Aquapak’s Hydropol, a high-performance, water-soluble polymer based on polyvinyl alcohol, has a “unique synergy” with bio-based polymers. It gives barrier and strength functionality while retaining multiple end-of-life options, through recycling streams or biodegradability in case of unintended release into the environment. Daphna Nissenbaum, CEO and co-founder at Tipa.

Initially, Tipa says it will focus on introducing compostable polymers in combination with Hydropol to bring new high-barrier and PVDC-free compostable film technology to the market. In addition, the two companies are working on future developments that will increase the functionality of paper-based packaging, which will be organically recyclable.

Functionality challenges
The combination of Tipa’s compostable polymers and Hydropol as a laminated or co-extruded film, in novel blends or as coatings on paper, allows new, cost-effective designs that fit the circular economy, while targeting both primary performance and end-of-life.

Mark Lapping, CEO at Aquapak, comments: “The current need for complex material combinations shows there is no ‘silver bullet’ for the material sector that addresses the need for functionality in packaging, while creating end-of-life options for designing truly circular packaging solutions.”

“Aquapak’s collaboration with Tipa combines the capabilities of both businesses to develop these new material combinations at scale that enable the design of packaging that has both functional performance and environmental responsibility – therefore, increasing the choice of environmental benefits for consumers without having to compromise on their functionality.”

Even if functionality was sacrificed, Innova Market Insights found that 30% of global consumers would be willing to compromise packaging convenience to reduce the amount of plastic used. Another 30% would even be willing to compromise shelf life to achieve a reduction in plastic packaging.

By Natalie Schwertheim