Develop and scale-up (TRL4-TRL6) the manufacture of a biobased, recyclable and biodegradable coating for paperboard packaging as a replacement for current petrochemical-based or fluorochemical materials

新冠肺炎只是加速了外卖和外卖服务的增长趋势，英国餐饮服务市场在2021年达到600多亿GB，预计2021-2026年间复合年增长率为14%。然而，外卖和送餐服务的便利是以显著的可持续成本为代价的：一次性包装的增加，主要是一次性纸板托盘和盒子的增加。尽管这些托盘和盒子是由可持续材料纸板制成的，但它们通常包含一层由石化聚合物或含氟化学品制成的薄层。这些涂层提供了一种防止油脂和水的功能屏障，有助于保持包装的结构完整性，并防止包装在运输和使用过程中泄漏或污染。不幸的是，将纸板从这些涂层中分离出来可能会对回收利用造成不利影响。对于有现成替代品的一次性塑料(例如，一次性聚苯乙烯杯/盖、餐具、盘子、吸管)，英国和欧盟已经引入了塑料禁令。尽管公众强烈支持更严格地禁止一次性塑料包装(活动组织A Platform Planet将其描述为“瞬间有用，污染数百年”)，但目前缺乏替代食品接触屏障涂层的做法阻碍了禁令的引入。受自然的启发，Xanta开发了由植物蛋白生产的下一代生物基和可生物降解材料。通过利用植物蛋白质的天然自组装能力，我们创造了一系列具有显著功能特性的新材料。Xanta以植物蛋白为基础的材料可用于生产性能高度受控的功能材料，包括用于包装应用的涂料。我们的涂料可应用于各种基材，并针对一系列商品(如食品和化妆品包装)进行定制，以提供可持续的包装解决方案。Xanta的植物蛋白基涂料具有优异的油脂和氧气阻隔性能，不会对用户体验产生负面影响。在Innovate UK的支持下，我们将开发并扩大生产一种生物基和可生物降解的包装涂料，以取代目前基于石化或氟化工的材料。我们将与一家领先的消费者包装制造商在英国扩大我们的方法，并与一家领先的外卖食品供应商进行消费者试验。我们还将与老牌化妆品包装制造商合作，在该领域开发类似的解决方案。该项目的成果将支持英国成为可持续包装领域的世界领导者的雄心，显著影响2025年英国塑料公约目标1，解决与消费品塑料包装相关的广为人知的问题。

COVID-19 has only accelerated the rising trend of takeaways and food delivery services, with the UK foodservice market reaching over £60 billion in 2021 with predicted CAGR \>14% from 2021-2026\[2\]. However, the convenience of takeaway and food delivery services come at a significant sustainability cost: an increase in single-use packaging, predominantly single-use paperboard trays and boxes. Although made from a sustainable material, paperboard, these trays and boxes usually contain a thin coating made from petrochemical-based polymers or fluorochemicals. These coating provide a functional barrier to grease and water which help maintain the structural integrity and prevent leakage or contamination of the package during transportation and use. Unfortunately, separating the paperboard from these coating can adversely affect recyclability.For single-use plastics with readily available alternatives (e.g., disposable polystyrene cups/lids, cutlery, plates, straws), plastics bans have already been introduced in the UK and the EU. Despite strong public support for more stringent ban on single-use plastic packaging (described by campaign group A Plastic Planet as "useful for moments, polluting for centuries"), the lack of an alternative for food contact barrier coatings currently hinders the introduction of a ban.Inspired by nature, Xampla has developed the next-generation bio-based and biodegradable materials produced from plant proteins. By harnessing the natural ability of plant proteins to self-assemble, we have created a new range of materials with remarkable functional properties. Xampla's plant protein-based materials can be used to produce functional materials with highly controlled properties, including coatings for packaging applications. Our coatings can be applied to a variety of substrates and tailored for use with a range of goods (e.g. food and cosmetic packaging) to deliver a sustainable packaging solution. Xampla's plant-protein based coatings offer excellent grease and oxygen barrier properties, without negatively impacting user experience.With Innovate UK support, we will develop and scale-up the manufacture of a bio-based and biodegradable packaging coating as a replacement for current petrochemical-based or fluorochemical materials. We will scale out our approach in the UK with a leading consumer packaging manufacturer and through consumer trials with a leading takeaway food provider. We will also work with established cosmetics packaging manufacturers to develop a similar solution in this sector.The outputs from this project will support the UK's ambition to become a world leader in sustainable packaging, significantly impacting 2025 UK Plastics Pact target 1, addressing widely known problems related to plastic packaging for consumer products.