Aquapak’s biodegradable polymer technology wins 4evergreen’s award
Aquapak Polymer won 4evergreen’s award for addressing recycling challenges with its Hydropol, a water-soluble, biodegradable polymer technology based on polyvinyl alcohol that can be extrusion coated or adhesive laminated as a film onto paper.
Hydropol technology allows extrusion coating or adhesive-laminated film onto paper.
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 scalability into diverse types of products while its solubility enables easier separation from other materials when recycling. For example, it can be extrusion coated onto paper or board giving strength and barrier properties against oxygen, oil and grease, which fits into different applications.
Paper packaging with Hydropol delivers barrier properties against oxygen, oil and grease.
Hydropol is soluble, non-toxic to marine life. Products made with this technology are safe for existing recycling processes are fully degradable, leaving no trace or harmful plastic pollution when they enter the environment.
Assessments on Hydropol’s recyclability
4evergreen, a European alliance who want to contribute to a climate neutral society by enhancing circularity and sustainability of fiber-based packaging, has undertaken Recyclability Evaluation Protocol, an independent scientific assessment, for assessing paper recyclability.
It shows that not only does Hydropol provide barrier properties and functionality to paper, but it aids the recycling of paper with 100% recovery of fibers.
This result also aligns with a joint study by DS Smith and Aquapak. The study shows that new barrier technologies such as Hydropol provide an alternative to conventional plastic coatings used in paper packaging.
It promotes improved paper fiber separation and removes plastic waste from the recycling process, reducing the negative impact of paper packaging on the environment.
“Hydropol provides packaging convertors and brands with a resource efficient, functional fiber-based packaging for household, out of home and on the go. It is designed to be an alternative to traditional plastics, offering their versatility and functionality, and enabling recycling in standard paper recycling mills,” stated Mark Lapping, CEO of Aquapak.
