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Unilever<\/a> today issued an update on its efforts to develop new sustainable packaging materials and technologies.<\/p>\n Unilever says its ambition is an end to plastic pollution through \u201creduction, circulation and collaboration,\u201d and its Global Packaging R&D Centre is home to a specialist team of experts dedicated to making this vision a reality. Unilever has more than doubled its investment in materials science and technology in recent years.<\/p>\n \u201cOur plastic progress is industry-leading, but we cannot be complacent,\u201d says Pablo Costa, Unilever\u2019s Global Head of Packaging. \u201cThat\u2019s why we\u2019re now taking materials science into our own hands. Our aim is to optimize what we can do in-house, while working end-to-end with our partners and peers to bring these solutions to market.\u201d<\/p>\n Incorporating more post-consumer recycled (PCR<\/a>) content into its packaging is key to reducing Unilever\u2019s virgin plastic use, but it\u2019s not simply a case of swapping one for the other. It\u2019s a complex technical challenge.<\/p>\n \u201cThe recycled plastic we use undergoes rigorous testing and quality checks to ensure our packaging looks and performs like virgin plastic, for example, smelling fresh and with colors that are still bright and appealing to consumers,\u201d the company notes.<\/p>\n This year, Unilever\u2019s Packaging R&D team characterized 160 grades of recycled plastic content to create a digital tool that can predict packaging color, eliminating the need to create a physical prototype with recycled materials just to see what it will look like. This is saving a huge amount of time and resource, cutting development time by around 25%.<\/p>\n \u201cWe also use our Advanced Manufacturing Centre \u2013 our pilot-scale plant for in-house testing \u2013 to optimize our materials and designs virtually before we bring them to market. This further reduces the need for physical tests and factory trials and helps us ensure our packaging is then fit for wide-scale factory roll-out,\u201d the company said.<\/p>\n As part of the goal to make 100% of its flexible plastic packaging reusable, recyclable or compostable by 2035, Unilever is working on a range of solutions.\u00a0<\/p>\n Unilever\u2019s approach is to first eliminate non-essential packaging by scaling alternative product formats and business models. \u201cWe\u2019re realistic that these will take more time and systemic change, which is why we\u2019re also developing material alternatives to flexible plastic,\u201d the company said.<\/p>\n Through its \u2018Future Flexibles\u2019 program, Unilever is developing materials \u2013 for things like pouches and sachets<\/a> \u2013 that are both recyclable and compostable<\/a>. This means designing materials that are compatible with recycling systems and naturally biodegradable.<\/p>\n Right now, paper is the only widely recyclable and compostable packaging material on the market. However, on its own, paper is insufficient as a packaging material. It has low barrier properties, rips easily in industrial production settings and doesn\u2019t melt, which makes sealing the pack extra challenging. This is why many paper packaging solutions today often require a thin layer of plastic film \u2013 to provide barrier protection<\/a> and to seal and protect the product inside.<\/p>\n \u201cPackaging liquid products like laundry detergent and shampoo in paper is one of the most technically complex challenges we\u2019re tackling in R&D,\u201d Costa said. \u201cThey have higher barrier requirements compared to dry products. The solution lies in removing the plastic film layer by developing material alternatives that can still seal the packaging and provide barrier protection, without impacting its recyclability and natural biodegradability.\u201d<\/p>\n Unilever\u2019s Packaging R&D team constantly evaluates emerging materials and technologies. To date, the company has assessed over 3,000 technologies, including those from other industry sectors \u2013 like pharmaceuticals and electronics \u2013 that are not currently used in packaging.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cSwitching to recyclable and compostable paper flexibles will require major industry transformation,\u201d Costa says. \u201cThere are no quick fixes. But we\u2019re already starting work to prepare our supply chain \u2013 and our consumers \u2013 for the transition.\u201d<\/p>\n Unilever is on the current Packaging Strategies<\/em> \u201cTop 100 Food and Beverage Packaging Companies\u201d list. Click here<\/a> to view the current \u201cTop 100\u201d rankings.<\/p>\n<\/div>\nIncreasing use of recycled plastic content<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n
Developing next-generation flexible materials<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n