June 24, 2022
(press release)
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Aquapak Polymers Ltd, which specialises in polymer-based material technologies which deliver both performance and environmental responsibility at scale, has today announced its new Advisory Board, comprising business leaders and experts in material science and the environment. The Advisory Board will provide advice and input to support Aquapak’s management team as they embark on an exciting phase of global growth and innovation. The Advisory Board comprises: · Dr Marijn Dekkers, former CEO OF Bayer AG and former Chairman of Unilever · Charlie Crew, former CEO of SABIC Innovative Plastics, · Frankie Hobro, Director and Owner of Anglesey Sea Zoo and Marine Resource Centre · Simon Weston, Former Director of Raw Materials, Confederation of Paper Industries (CPI) · Paul Jenkins, MD, ThePackHub Aquapak has successfully developed and commercialised HydropolTM, a high-performance polymer that enables product design to provide its much-needed functionality whilst increasing recycling and reducing plastic pollution. When extrusion coated or laminated onto paper, HydropolTM adds strength and barriers to oxygen, oil and grease, and its solubility allows 100% paper fibre recovery through paper recycling mills. As well as being biodegradable and compostable, it is non-toxic to the environment and marine-safe, so it still has a safe end-of-life if it is not disposed of as intended. It is already being used in products such as reusable, heat sealable paper mailing bags. The Advisory Board will offer Aquapak’s team of experts valuable advice and guidance as they tackle the business, scientific and environmental challenges involved in broadening Hydropol’sTM applications and new technologies, with a particular focus on the development of highly functional barrier film with improved end of life, fully recyclable paper-based packaging and introducing functionality to bio-based compostable technologies for some of the world’s leading brands, and to enable the design of alternatives to some of the most difficult packaging in terms of functionality and end of life requirements. Mark Lapping, Chief Executive Officer, Aquapak, comments: “The potential for Aquapak and Hydropol to reinvent packaging is enormous and today’s announcement will help accelerate this vision as part of our ambitious growth strategy. We are delighted to welcome our Advisory Board members and know that the breadth of their support, knowledge and expertise in the applications, environments, end of life and markets in which we operate will be invaluable in supporting our strategy.” www.aquapakpolymers.com Aquapak develops and manufactures a range of adaptive polymer-based material technologies that deliver both performance and environmental responsibility at scale. For example, it has developed Hydropol, an enabling technology for the circular economy, which is biodegradable, compostable and marine-safe, and used in a range of packaging materials. Aquapak’s HQ and manufacturing centre is in Birmingham, UK, with its main geographical markets in the US, EU and Asia. About HydropolTM - Accelerating the transition to the Circular Economy Hydropol™, developed and produced by Aquapak, is a highly functional, specialty environmental polymer that allows product design to support the circular economy – by enabling recycling and delivering multiple end-of-life options. It is designed to be an alternative to traditional plastics, offering their versatility and functionality but without harming the environment. Hydropol™ is soluble, non-toxic and marine safe. Products made with Hydropol™ are safe for existing recycling processes and are fully biodegradable, leaving no trace or plastic pollution should they enter the environment. As an enabling technology, Hydropol™ can be used on its own or in combination with other materials to enhance recyclability, compostability and end-of-life options. Its material properties allow for scalability into diverse types of products and its solubility makes it easy to separate from other materials when recycling. For example, it can be extrusion coated and laminated onto paper or board giving strength and barrier properties against oxygen, oil and grease then made into alternative mailing bags, dry pet food sacks, window patch boxes and packets etc. To dispose, consumers can simply put the packaging into their household paper waste. The Hydropol layer is formulated to ‘wash off’ (dissolve) during the paper repulping process and then either biodegrades in the waste water system or turned into clean energy if the plant has an AD system. Who is using Hydropol? Consumers and businesses are increasingly concerned about plastic pollution and environmental sustainability. Packaging producers need solutions. Aquapak has partnered with a growing base of clients in apparel, fashion, hospitality, healthcare, food packaging, logistics packaging, industrial, nonwovens, and other packaging. What is Hydropol made from? The base plastic is currently used for dishwasher tablets, ingestible pill casings and soluble stitches. HydropolTM ‘s resistance to low temperature solubility and high barrier to elements adds functionality, providing a wider range of uses. It can be recycled, re-pulped, composted and is distinctively compatible with anaerobic digestion. Furthermore, if unintentionally released into the natural environment, HydropolTM – which is non-toxic and marine safe - will dissolve and subsequently biodegrade, leaving no trace. What is Hydropol being used for? Extrusion coatings and laminates for paper/board applications are commercially available and in customer production trial stages, including a number of home delivery and ecommerce applications, packaging for dried pet food, snacks, cooked meat and convenience food applications. Blown film products commercially available and made from HydropolTM include garment bags, ESD bags, organic waste disposal bags and laundry bags for infection control. These can be disposed of at home by the consumer in hot water or added to the recycling where they dissolve during the recycling wash processes. Other applications under development with customers and development partners include injection moulded parts such as golf tees, nonwoven fibre for applications such as flushable wet wipes and cellulose combinations for thermoformed trays.
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