The Lactips packaging film is based on casein – a protein derived from milk – and breaks down harmlessly in water or home compost. The film takes three weeks to biodegrade.
‘It is a truly disruptive innovation, and we can now make what was previously not possible,’ said Jean-Antoine Rochette, chief financial officer of Lactips and the company’s project officer for Ecolactifilm.
The Lactips material:
- has a good oxygen barrier to keep goods fresh;
- can be printed with labels or usage instructions;
- can be used for water treatment, agrochemicals, dishwasher capsules and food packaging.
- fully water-soluble at cold temperatures
- is produced from milk that is unfit for human consumption for its non-food applications.
- is produced as small plastic pellets called nurdles that, with some adjustments, can be used in existing plastic processing machinery.
- saves energy because it can be formed at lower temperatures than oil-based plastics.