Open Innovation Technical Need

Cellulose-based sustainable packaging solutions

Category

Packaging

Description

We are continually seeking cellulose-based primary packaging solutions across rigid, semi-flexible and flexible formats that support our sustainability ambitions.

Background

We have a strong ambition in Haleon to make our packaging more sustainable.

Packaging for food, drug & medical applications is highly regulated and has demanding performance requirements in terms of barriers and product-pack compatibility for the full life cycle of the product.

Cellulose-based solutions currently need a significant mass of polymer-based multi-material liners, laminations or complex multi-layered coatings to provide the performance required, which impacts their overall ability to meet sustainability targets.

To achieve more sustainable solutions, medium and high oxygen and moisture barrier performance needs to be coupled with recyclability and a lower carbon footprint.

Key Success Criteria

Must-have requirements

• Meeting category-specific healthcare quality, safety and regulatory requirements
• Medium-High oxygen barrier
• Medium-High moisture barrier
• Recycle-ready (existing or emerging sorting and repulping technologies)
• Recyclable by 2030 (local waste management reality)
• Carbon scope3 reduction vs alternatives
• Readily scalable to industrial production

Preferred Requirements

• Water footprint reduction vs alternatives
• Low impact on manufacturing cycle times
• Lower than 5% non-cellulose content by mass