UK – Packaging startup Notpla in collaboration with home care detergent maker MACK has unveiled a sustainable clothes detergent sachet.

Claimed to be industry-first, the packaging incorporates Notpla’s plant-based, water-soluble film.

This is the first commercial application of Notpla’s film material into a refill cleaning product line.

The packaging solution is designed for homeware and laundry products and is environmentally friendly.

Designed for homeware and laundry products, the packaging solution dissolves in water and naturally biodegrades without leaving microplastic residue.

Notpla co-founder and co-CEO Pierre Paslier said: “We are thrilled to collaborate with MACK, a company that shares our passion for sustainability and environmental responsibility.

“Our mission is to create innovative, plant-based solutions that challenge the status quo and redefine the future of packaging.”

With this move, MACK aims to phase PVOH and PVA out of its packaging and reduce microplastic leakage.

MACK co-founder Anthony McCourt said: “Our partnership with Notpla aligns perfectly with our mission to provide customers with a truly sustainable, eco-friendly cleaning solution that leaves zero [negative] legacy on the planet for future generations.

“We believe that sustainable packaging is not just an option, but a responsibility that we owe to our planet and communities.

“Together with Notpla, we are determined to make a significant difference in reducing plastic waste and promoting a circular economy.”

According to a recent study, around 11,100 tonnes of PVA is generated from laundry and detergent pods in the US every year, with approximately 6,750 tonnes of that figure reaching wastewater treatment plants; the developed model also estimates that 76.7% of PVA ends up in the environment.

Such pollution is feared to contribute to the bioaccumulation of PVA and PVOH in both nature and the human body.

Therefore, MACK seeks to help consumers make a positive environmental impact by offering an alternative to traditional packaging materials without sacrificing the quality of its products.

Notpla’s collaboration with MACK is bringing Notpla Film to the cleaning industry. On a wider scale, the material aims to negate the use of single-use plastics in flexible packaging applications across various sectors.

In September last year, Notpla partnered with European packaging company Coveris to introduce a range of recyclable food cartons.

Developed using Notpla’s barrier coating technology, the new coated-board packaging is fully printed and branded.

The biodegradable packs feature specialist water-based inks designed to improve sustainability, as well as an advanced oil barrier function, claimed to offer better performance than plastic.

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