Peak Nano introduces nanolayered biodegradable films for food and medical packaging

USA – Peak Nano has launched a development program to create what it describes as “first-of-its-kind” nanolayered biodegradable multilayer polymer films for food, beverage, and medical packaging, leveraging its patented NanoPlex metamaterials platform.

Backed by R&D funding from the Greater Akron Polymer Innovation Hub, the initiative aims to provide a high-performance alternative to conventional multilayer films, which typically combine tightly bonded polymer layers and additives that are difficult, if not impossible, to recycle.

Dr. Michael Ponting, chief scientific officer at Peak Nano, says the NanoPlex technology enables the company to engineer nanoscale layers that precisely tune barrier properties, mechanical strength, and degradability.

“With NanoPlex, we can create nanolayers that let us dial in characteristics like barrier performance, mechanical strength, and even degradability,” he explains.

“We can now design biodegradable nanolayer structures that give converters the barrier and mechanical properties they need, with a much better end-of-life story.”

Addressing microplastic concerns

The NanoPlex platform was originally developed at Case Western Reserve University by polymer scientists focused on advanced coextrusion technologies.

By combining nanolayer coextrusion with biaxial orientation, the process enhances oxygen and water-vapor barrier performance while improving film toughness, critical for demanding F&B and sterile medical applications.

Peak Nano says the films are engineered to biodegrade over time without compromising product integrity during use, positioning them as a potential solution to growing scrutiny over microplastic accumulation and packaging waste.

Regulators in the US and Europe are increasingly targeting complex multilayer structures that cannot enter existing recycling streams, prompting converters and brand owners to seek recyclable or compostable alternatives with equivalent functionality.

Hans Dorfi, executive director and chief innovation officer at the Polymer Industry Cluster, notes that the program aligns materials science innovation with regional manufacturing expertise.

Meanwhile, Jean-Claude Kihn, former CTO of The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company and co-chair of the Hub’s Innovation and Commercialization Committee, says scaling the technology in Ohio could translate the state’s polymer heritage into next-generation sustainable materials and high-value jobs.

Peak Nano plans to leverage its Ohio manufacturing footprint and regional partners to accelerate commercialization.

The move comes amid broader industry efforts to redesign flexible packaging structures, balancing barrier performance, machinability, and regulatory compliance with improved end-of-life outcomes.

If successful at scale, nanolayered biodegradable films could offer converters a new pathway to meet tightening sustainability targets without sacrificing the protective performance essential to food safety and medical sterility.

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