Neste and Mitsui Chemicals partner to develop environmentally-friendly food packaging for CO-OP

JAPAN – Neste, in collaboration with Mitsui Chemicals and its subsidiary Prime Polymer, has embarked on a mission to develop sustainable food packaging solutions for CO-OP, a brand under the Japanese Consumers Co-operative Union (JCCU).

The initial phase of this partnership involves the introduction of a new packaging material for a seaweed snack sold by CO-OP.

This innovative packaging utilizes biobased raw materials, replacing fossil-based ones to offer a more sustainable alternative.

Neste specializes in producing renewable Neste RE, a feedstock for polymers derived entirely from biobased raw materials.

Through this collaboration, Neste will work with Mitsui and Prime to process this feedstock, creating renewable polypropylene named ‘Prasus’ for CO-OP’s food packaging.

This biobased packaging exhibits identical quality and performance compared to traditional fossil feedstock packaging. Notably, its carbon footprint is significantly reduced due to the replacement of fossil materials during the production process.

Using a mass balance approach, Neste has allocated renewable material to plastic packaging, resulting in CO-OP’s seaweed snack being the first product with packaging made from certified renewable plastics via mass balancing, acknowledged by the Japanese Eco Mark.

Lilyana Budyanto, Head of Neste Sustainable Partnerships Asia Pacific, emphasizes the significant impact of renewable plastics in transforming the plastics industry and reducing emissions along the value chain, starting from small changes, such as packaging slices of dried seaweed.

Following the launch of this biobased packaging for CO-OP’s seaweed snack, the companies aim to extend this sustainable solution to other products.

In a parallel move away from fossil-based plastics, TIPA has developed a tray for takeaway food packaging using rice waste.

This tray, made of pulp, aligns with forthcoming legislative restrictions on takeaway containers and aims to package fruits, vegetables, baked goods, and hot foods.

It can be disposed of through paper recycling streams or home compost bins, reducing emissions from burning agricultural waste.

TIPA highlights that the tray, being bio-based and GM-free, offers an organic touch and visual appeal to product packaging while ensuring extended shelf life, durability, and high performance.

As an alternative to both traditional plastic packaging and paper bags, the pack responds to a ban on polystyrene takeaway containers in England, Scotland, and now Wales.

According to TIPA, the tray is intended as an environmentally conscious alternative for businesses to adhere to the new rules – thought to be capable of storing hot meals for up to 48 hours while fully decomposing at end-of-life.

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