Researchers Aim to Develop New Sustainable Packaging Alternatives

Press/Media: Press / Media

Period20 Oct 2024

Media contributions

1

Media contributions

  • TitleResearchers Aim to Develop New Sustainable Packaging Alternatives
    Degree of recognitionInternational
    Media name/outletPackaging Technology Today
    Media typeWeb
    Country/TerritoryUnited States
    Date20/10/24
    DescriptionThe demand for fiber-based packaging solutions continues to grow. At the same time, packaging manufacturers around the world are struggling with rising energy costs, and legislators as well as conscious consumers are increasingly interested in sustainability factors such as their CO2 footprint and recyclability. We see a clear need to develop scalable, high-quality packaging that is easy to recycle while significantly reducing carbon footprint.

    Currently, a standard-sized cardboard manufacturing machine uses 1 200 000 m3 of water each year. This is equivalent to the annual water usage of 5 000 households. With the best available technology, water consumption is 4 m3 / ton of board, and the fresh water consumption of an average board machine in the US is more than 20 m3 / ton of board. The goal of our current research initiative, Energy First, is to create a new process that reduces the amount of water spent by up to 90% and cuts down energy use by 50%.

    The initiative will establish a new innovative open-access pilot line in Jyväskylä, Finland. The collaborative research aims at developing and testing commercially viable, sustainable alternatives for cardboard packaging, hygiene products, and nonwoven fabrics.
    URLhttps://www.packagingtechtoday.com/materials/sustainable/researchers-aim-to-develop-new-sustainable-packaging-alternatives/
    PersonsAtte Virtanen, Harri Kiiskinen