Multi-layer starch-protein biodegradable films with controlled gas permeability for detergent packaging
Biodegradable starch-protein films incorporating myofibrillar proteins for controlled-permeability packaging of detergent products. Combines functionality with compostability, meeting MVTR and OTR barrier requirements while being food-safe, dissolvable, and recyclable-free.
Overview
This solution offers biodegradable, multi-layer starch-protein films enhanced with myofibrillar proteins (structural proteins derived from muscle tissue) for use as packaging materials in the detergent industry. The films are engineered to deliver controlled gas permeability while maintaining the mechanical strength and barrier properties required for sensitive detergent formulations containing surfactants, enzymes, and solvents. By combining the functional performance of conventional packaging with full biodegradability and water dissolvability, the technology eliminates the need for recycling streams and supports brand sustainability commitments.
Technical specifications
- Base material: Starch-protein film matrix previously validated for tensile strength and barrier performance
- Reinforcement: Myofibrillar protein integration to fine-tune gas permeability and mechanical properties
- Layered architecture: Multi-layer construction enabling compatibility testing with specific surfactants, enzymes, and solvents
- Barrier performance: Meets MVTR (moisture vapor transmission rate) below 0.5 g/m²/day and OTR (oxygen transmission rate) below 1 ml/m²/day
- Safety and end-of-life: Food-safe composition; fully dissolvable in water without requiring recycling
- Nanomaterial integration: Previously combined with nanomaterials in 2022 to enhance film functionality
- Compatibility validation: Films tested in barrier solution for one week at 40°C and 75% relative humidity to confirm no degradation
Technology readiness level
The technology has progressed through staged validation: starch-only films were developed in 2019, starch-protein composites followed in 2021 demonstrating increased strength, nanomaterial integration was achieved in 2022, and myofibrillar protein testing is underway in 2023. A spin-off company, Sustainable Bioproduct Innovations Inc., is focused on scaling the lab-scale process into a commercially viable manufacturing pathway under license from the University of British Columbia. Proof-of-principle demonstrations for detergent packaging applications are targeted within a three-month timeframe, with ongoing optimization of layer compatibility for specific detergent ingredients.
About Sustainable Bioproduct Innovations
Sustainable Bioproduct Innovations Inc. (SBI) is a company dedicated to the commercialization of sustainable, plant-based ingredients for the agri-food and natural health sectors. The company serves as an innovation bridge, licensing advanced research—notably fat mimetic technology from the University of British Columbia—and transforming it into market-ready, functional food solutions. Their flagship product, 0Fat, is a plant-derived fat substitute formulated from chia seed mucilage and plant fibers. Engineered as micro-particles, these ingredients effectively replicate the mouthfeel, texture, and stability of traditional fats while significantly reducing calories and saturated fat content in various food applications.
This technology addresses critical industry challenges, including rising consumer demand for healthier options, the need for clean-label ingredients, and evolving government mandates regarding saturated fat labeling. By offering a versatile, cost-effective, and environmentally sustainable alternative to animal-derived fats or palm oil, SBI enables food manufacturers to reformulate products like spreads, cheeses, and meat alternatives without compromising on quality. The company actively collaborates with industry partners, such as the PEQISH Group, to integrate these innovations into commercial product lines and improve the health profile of packaged foods.
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