Description

Yet2 client Opella is looking for biodegradable packaging solutions (flexible, extruded, or injection stretch blow moulding (ISBM) bottles, formed fill and seal vials, tubes) to use for consumer healthcare products. This challenge supports Opella's environmental commitments to circularity and plastic reduction, aligning with consumer expectations and Opella's mission to preserve the planet.

Background

Ongoing innovations in material science and waste management are actively addressing the challenges of biodegradable packaging to enhance its performance and sustainability. Biodegradable packaging refers to packaging materials derived from renewable, bio-based sources such as biomass feedstocks, plant extracts, agricultural waste, vegetable oils, seaweed, or mycelium. These materials can often be melted and reshaped, offering a sustainable alternative to conventional thermoplastics. However, biodegradable packaging typically exhibits lower barrier properties and is highly sensitive to moisture ingress, which can limit its application in certain environments.​

At the end of their life cycle, biodegradable packaging materials are generally not recyclable through traditional recycling systems and may even contaminate existing recycling streams. Despite these challenges, their non-fossil origin, reduced carbon footprint, and favorable life cycle assessments make them promising solutions for reducing environmental impact.

Key Success Criteria.

Must-have Requirements

• Should be biodegradable, dissolvable, or home compostable (capable of being broken down by naturally occurring microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi without requiring a specialized environment)​
• Should be compatible with recycling streams (able to be collected with other packaging materials without disrupting existing recycling processes)​
• Should be made from bio-based or renewable resources (e.g., avoid blending with fossil-based materials)​
• Should have a better life-cycle assessment (LCA) compared to conventional solutions​
• Should provide the required protection for healthcare products (e.g., barrier properties against water, light, and oxygen transmission)​
• Should be compatible with existing traditional packaging and filling systems (utilizing conventional technologies without the need for additional investments)​
• Should be food-grade certified

Preferred Requirements ​

• Recyclable in existing recycling streams​
• Cost-effective​

Approaches​ not of interest

• Oxo-degradable or so-called Oxo-biodegradable materials which are conventional thermoplastic made with additive-technology that accelerates plastic fragmentation​
• Compostable materials which degrade only at industrial composting facility with certain standard conditions of temperature & microorganisms​

Target Group​

Adults and children, no specific health conditions​

Geographies

Global

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