Periodic Reporting for period 1 - PAPER SOLUTIONS (PAPER SOLUTIONS: Providing the switch from plastic to paper packaging)
Reporting period: 2020-01-01 to 2020-04-30
Consumer packaging industry is responsible for nearly 50% of world´s plastic waste (as most plastics are for single use) which normally ends contaminating oceans and land and exposing humans to toxic additives (due to transfer of toxic micro-plastic from fish/seafood to humans via trophic transfer) associated with hormonal disruption, thyroid effects and cancer. Industry is under great challenge to find an alternative packaging material to: 1) comply with EU Single use plastic directive and other country regulations, which are restricting use of plastics, and 2) meet consumers increasing demand for eco-friendly packaging. PAPER SOLUTIONS solves this problem by using paper as a renewable option that can be recycled repeatedly without any degradation. Project overall objectives are: upgrading the technical operating parameters, developing a carbon footprint raw material supply chain and reaching 15 commercial agreements with potential customers.
In 2016, we began developing PAPER SOLUTIONS machinery and packaging technology with our partners. In 2017, our prototype was built and could handle paper with thickness of 85gr/sm and wrap flat items with a height of 6 mm (thickness of a magazine) with a production rate of 19,000 items/hour. However, the scrap rate was still high at 13%. Redevelopment of the control software and the rotative cutter for better cutting accuracy, including testing and refinement, culminated in a production rate of 30,000 items/h, scrap rate <7%, processable paper thickness of 100gr/sm and increased item height of 10mm. A market analysis and commercial assessment was also performed, showing a rapidly growing market, limited competition, and no IP conflicts. Finally, the financial plan confirmed the viability of the project with affordable risks, potential partners, an attractive raw material supply chain and multiple investors interested.
PAPER SOLUTIONS is a packaging technology that can be retrofitted into existing plastic packaging machines to allow to use environmentally friendly & biodegradable paper (instead of plastic) as wrapping material for 2D and 3D items at a lower cost than buying a totally new packaging machine. PAPER SOLUTIONS can process both virgin and recycled paper in the same machine working at higher production rates than competitors (>30,000 items/hr) and handling bigger product thickness (up to 100 mm). PAPER SOLUTIONS also supports employment creation as this project will generate 20 new skilled jobs.