Bio-based pfas-free barrier coatings for sustainable food packaging
Innovative bio-based coatings offer PFAS-free solutions for food packaging, combining nanocellulose, mineral platelets, and lipids to provide water, grease, and heat resistance. Designed for compatibility with existing processes, this solution supports recyclability and complies with evolving regulations.
Overview
The development of bio-based PFAS-free barrier coatings represents a significant advancement in sustainable food packaging solutions. This innovative technology combines nanocellulose, mineral platelets, and lipid or wax components to deliver effective barriers against water, grease, and heat, comparable to traditional polymer-based coatings. Designed for fiber-based food packaging, these coatings form a dense, layered microstructure that not only reduces liquid penetration and oil absorption but also maintains flexibility and strong adhesion to paper substrates. The water-based formulation is easily integrated into existing manufacturing processes, offering a scalable and regulatory-compliant alternative to plastic-based coatings while supporting recyclability and compostability.
Technical specifications
- Composition: Combines nanocellulose, mineral platelets (e.g., clay), and lipid or wax components.
- Barrier Mechanisms: Utilizes tortuous path diffusion, film-forming biopolymers, and hydrophobic lipid phases.
- Compatibility: Works with existing coating and converting processes; stable under elevated temperatures.
- Environmental Impact: Designed to be recyclable or compostable, reducing environmental footprint.
- Performance Metrics: Coatings are tested for water and grease resistance, water vapor transmission rate (WVTR), and heat stability.
Technology readiness level
Currently at Technology Readiness Level 4, this solution has undergone initial formulation development and performance testing. Future phases will include comprehensive process integration, sustainability assessments, and scale-up pathways to ensure industrial validation and adoption. The technology is ready for co-development partnerships to advance towards commercial deployment.
About Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a major public land‑grant research university with a comprehensive academic portfolio and a large research enterprise. Industry partners engage through an on‑campus U.S. Department of Energy national user facility and shared core laboratories with user access. The university provides a chemical process scale‑up pilot plant on Michigan’s lakeshore, a research and technology park, and a Grand Rapids health innovation campus linking researchers with clinical partners. A statewide extension network supports field deployment and workforce training across Michigan’s manufacturing corridor. Research is backed by competitive federal funding from NSF, NIH, DOE, USDA, and DoD, while dedicated tech transfer and corporate engagement teams—supported by an affiliated research foundation—accelerate IP, licensing, startups, and sponsored research.
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