SmartSolve unveils bio-based pouch film that dissolves without microplastics

USA – SmartSolve has launched PureNil 0, a plastic-free, bio-based pouching material for household cleaning products that disperses in water without leaving microplastic residue, offering an alternative to polyvinyl alcohol films, with the company planning to showcase it at PACK EXPO International 2026.

The new material, announced on 27 August 2026, is printable and designed to dissolve in water, avoiding the microplastic residue associated with PVA films. 

SmartSolve stated: “Unlike PVA films, it disperses in water without leaving microplastics behind, flushable, functional, and built on zero-waste principles.”  

The company’s Bowling Green, Ohio-based operation has positioned PureNil 0 as the first product in its PureNil series, with further materials planned under the same fully bio-based and plastic-free criteria.

Applications and End-of-Life Options for Household Cleaning Products

PureNil 0 is intended for use in dishwasher detergent pouches, laundry powder sachets, single-dose cleaning sticks for multipurpose or personal care items, toilet cleaner sachets, drain treatment powders and refill pouches for multi-surface cleaners. 

According to SmartSolve, the material remains intact during use and disposal, allowing cleaning products to stay contained while enabling measured doses intended to limit excess use and waste. 

The company positioned the material as an option for brands responding to tighter Extended Producer Responsibility rules, noting that its bio-based and plastic-free composition may also appeal to consumers wary of claims around recyclability.

SmartSolve’s Strategy to Address PVA Concerns and Consumer Skepticism

The launch comes amid growing scrutiny of PVA-based water-soluble films. 

In 2025, the UK’s Advertising Standards Authority ruled that OceanSaver could not substantiate claims that its PVA-based laundry pods were “plastic-free” or “fully biodegradable,” as evidence showed PVA does not fully biodegrade during normal washing machine use or within standard wastewater treatment plants. 

Industry response to PVA concerns has accelerated the search for alternatives, with Belgian polymer company B4Plastics developing SOLUBAN® as a bio-based replacement for PVA with a bio-based content ranging up to 100 percent. 

PlantSea has also developed a flexible, water-soluble bio-based film from sustainably sourced seaweed designed as a drop-in replacement for PVA. SmartSolve CEO Jon Jakubowski stated: “Brands now have a viable, scalable, and commercially available alternative that’s fully bio-based, plastic-free, and water-soluble. 

This is the kind of innovation that will help our partners lead, versus just keep up, in the sustainable packaging movement.”  The company plans to present PureNil 0 at PACK EXPO International 2026 in Chicago.

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