Replacing non-recyclable black plastic: Development of the first fully compostable, oven-proof, long shelf-life tray for ‘ready-meal’ and modified atmosphere packaging

“我们的目标是通过开发一种自然的、完全可堆肥的替代包装技术，减少和取代黑色不可回收塑料用于即食食品和环境食品的改性大气包装。英国每年使用超过13亿个黑色塑料托盘（全球约100亿个-[绿色和平组织]b[0]），但低回收率（英国塑料回收率为45%；全球塑料回收率为9% - defra；2018）和红外回收工厂传感器无法识别黑色意味着99%的黑色塑料食品托盘最终被填埋，甚至更糟糕的是进入海洋。尽管人们正在努力提高黑色塑料的可回收性，但高回收成本加上低回收率意味着我们需要的是彻底放弃塑料，转而使用天然的、可持续的替代材料。**FOCUS**与可持续包装和制造专家组成的强大联盟合作，该项目专注于设计和开发一种完全可堆肥（6周），耐热（高达240℃），微波和冷冻食品托盘，采用独特的生物聚合物涂层，使用海藻和玉米淀粉，为即食食品和环境生肉/鱼市场提供长达21天的大气保护。该托盘完全由我们的天然材料制成，将使用许多FSA（英国），欧盟和FDA（美国）批准的协议进行设计和测试，以确保它满足每个食品安全机构和目标食品生产商客户所需的氧气传递，水蒸气传递，温度，疾病和厚度要求**意义**尽管越来越多地关注减少塑料废物和大量消费者和供应商的需求，用天然替代品代替黑色塑料用于改性气氛食品包装的技术挑战尚未解决。因此，我们强大的生物聚合物屏障技术代表了行业的一个步骤变化，仍然由黑色塑料主导。此外，作为一种完全可堆肥的解决方案，它比再生塑料替代品更便宜，更容易处理。根据英国政府2025年的“塑料公约”承诺，我们所有的材料都是天然来源的，因此有可能大大减少英国在这一领域对塑料的依赖——到2020年，我们将有3200万英镑的营业额机会。我们已经与冰岛和嘉里食品公司进行了深入的讨论，在这项技术开发出来后尽早采用，我们认为这项技术具有全球潜力——既环保，又比开发新的塑料回收基础设施便宜得多。[0]: https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/why-cant-black-plastic-be-recycled_uk_5b18f4e1e4b0734a993b00d0?utm_hp_ref=uk-lifestyle”

"**AMBITION**Our aim is to reduce and replace the use of black non-recyclable plastic for modified atmosphere packaging for ready-meals and ambient food items with development of a natural, fully compostable alternative packaging technology.Over 1.3 billion black plastic trays are used in the UK each year (~10 billion globally- [Greenpeace][0]) however low recycling rates (45% plastic recycling rate UK; 9% globally-Defra;2018) and the inability of IR recycling plant sensors to the colour black mean that 99% of black plastic food trays end up in landfill, or even worse in the ocean.Although work is being done to increase the recyclability of black plastic, high recycling costs coupled with low recycling rates mean that what is needed is move away from plastic all together, towards natural, sustainable alternative materials.**FOCUS**Working with a strong consortia of sustainable packaging and manufacturing experts, the project focuses on design and development of a fully compostable (6 weeks), heat-resistant (up to 240oc), microwavable and freezable food tray with unique biopolymer coating using seaweed algae and corn starch to provide up to 21 days atmospheric protection for ready-meal and ambient raw meat/fish market.Made solely out our natural materials, the tray will be designed and tested using a number of FSA (UK), EU and FDA (US) approved protocols to ensure it meets the required oxygen transfer, water vapour transfer, temperature, disease and thickness requirements of each food safety agency and target food producer customers**SIGNIFICANCE**Despite an increased focus on reducing plastic waste and significant consumer and supplier demand, the technical challenges associated with replacing black plastic with natural alternatives for modified atmosphere food packaging have not been solved. Our strong biopolymer barrier technology therefore represents a step-change in the industry, still dominated by black plastic.Furthermore as a fully-compostable solution, it is both significantly cheaper and easier to dispose of than recycled plastic alternatives.In line with UK GOVs 'Plastic Pact' 2025 commitment, all our materials are naturally-sourced and therefore have the potential to reduce the UK's reliance on plastics in this area significantly -- opening up a £32m turnover opportunity for us by Y5\. We have already been in advanced discussions with Iceland and Kerry Foods regarding early adoption of the technology when developed and see this as having global potential -- environmental friendly and significantly cheaper than developing new plastic recycling infrastructure.[0]: https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/why-cant-black-plastic-be-recycled_uk_5b18f4e1e4b0734a993b00d0?utm_hp_ref=uk-lifestyle"