Micro-engineered bioplastic films and rigid packaging using high-pressure CO2 roll-to-roll processing
Corumat offers a patented micro-engineering process that uses high-pressure CO2 in a low-cost roll-to-roll system to tailor bioplastic properties. The technology modifies existing compostable films (e.g., PHA, PLA with biodegradable additives) to improve barrier performance, durability, and crystallinity for food packaging applications.
Overview
Corumat, Inc. has developed a patented micro-engineering platform that uses high-pressure CO2 in a roll-to-roll process to tailor the properties of plant-based bioplastics. The technology enables precise control over crystallinity, microstructure, and surface characteristics of polymers such as PLA and PHA, producing packaging materials that are lower in cost, lighter, and more durable than conventional alternatives. By modifying existing compostable film and barrier solutions, Corumat can help packaging converters and brand owners meet performance requirements for compostable food packaging while reducing material usage and overall carbon footprint.
Technical specifications
- Micro-engineering process: Uses high-pressure CO2 in a continuous roll-to-roll system to crystallize and microstructure a variety of biopolymers
- Material compatibility: Demonstrated on PLA, PHA films (e.g., Danimer), and PLA films with biodegradable additives
- Key capabilities: Generates rigid, highly crystalline PLA packaging; produces bag materials with unique surface characteristics; enables both crystallization and microstructuring in a single process
- Applications: Compostable food service packaging, thin films with barrier properties, and lightweight rigid packaging
- Sustainability profile: Plant-based inputs, compostable end-of-life options, and potential for carbon-negative outcomes when paired with organic waste diversion
Technology readiness level
The technology has progressed beyond laboratory validation. Corumat has produced prototype bags with unique characteristics for a top-10 fast food chain, demonstrated very lightweight and low-cost rigid packaging, and enlisted a full-scale manufacturing partner for rigid packaging production. The company has secured over $5 million in non-dilutive grant funding from the EPA, NSF, and USDA, along with $2.1 million in equity investment. An engineering firm in Seattle is currently supporting efforts to deploy additional machines across multiple facilities. The platform is ready for collaborative pilot projects focused on optimizing film and barrier combinations for specific end-use requirements.
About Corumat, Inc.
Corumat, Inc. is a materials science company founded in 2013 that specializes in micro-engineering sustainable, plant-based materials to replace conventional plastics. The company uses a patented manufacturing process to create lightweight, durable, and heat-stable structures that require significantly less material than traditional petroleum-based plastics. Its primary focus is on decarbonizing the packaging and waste industries through products that are compostable and often carbon-negative. The company's technology is versatile, with applications spanning food service packaging, sporting goods, transportation materials, and building insulation.
Corumat addresses critical environmental challenges by developing the Big Green Loop, an ecosystem designed to divert food and organic waste from landfills and convert them back into compostable packaging. This approach aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat ocean plastic pollution by creating profitable waste infrastructure. The company has demonstrated its technology through pilot programs and collaborations with research institutions, including the USDA. Corumat has successfully secured over $5 million in non-dilutive grant funding from organizations such as the EPA, the National Science Foundation, and the USDA to support its research, development, and scaling efforts.
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