The Center for Process Innovation (CPI), a science & technology innovation center based in the UK, is reportedly collaborating with industry partners to promote the development of an eco-friendly packaging system.
According to a report by The Northern Echo, the CPI is utilizing its polymer chemistry research in its NETPark base at Sedgefield, in a bid to develop alternatives to fossil-based polymers which cause land and sea pollution.
As per credible sources familiar with the knowledge of the matter, the UK based company is working in partnership with iPac Packaging Innovations, Cranswick Plc, Avondale Foods and their customers. It shall employ its industrial biotechnology know-how and the formulation for developing new packaging solutions which are highly biodegradable. The packaging is aimed at rapid biodegradation in the natural ecosystem of Earth, when brought into contact with the environment, added sources.
It has also been reported that the new project will help in the advancement of next-gen packaging – made from materials degrading naturally in the environment – that extends the shelf-life of foods like salads and meat. The project also obtained funding from the Innovate UK program, ‘Plastics Innovation: Towards Zero Waste’.
For the record, the Innovate UK initiative, a part of UK Research & Innovation, intends to reduce environmental harm caused by the usage of plastic. At the same time, it aims at boosting growth and productivity of the economy of the UK.
Dan Noakes, Business Manager of CPI, was recently quoted stating that the project undertaken tackles the issue of persistent plastic waste head-on. He further stated that it is expected to impact the food industry’s sustainability positively and influence environment-conscious purchases by consumers.
If sources are to be believed, the center needs to implement new thinking to overcome the critical environmental problems caused by plastic packaging.
