Pakeco: high barrier performance regeneratable eco-packaging plastics

Overview

PakEco is a next-generation sustainable packaging technology designed to replace petroleum-based plastics with high-performance, fully circular bioplastics. The solution targets dry food packaging applications where moisture and gas barrier performance are critical. PakEco plastics are 100% recyclable, compostable, or biodegradable, and are engineered for continuous make–unmake–remake cycles, enabling full circularity and resource efficiency.

The technology merges proprietary mechano-green chemical processing with biocatalytic methods to produce packaging that can be depolymerized post-use via reactive extrusion and regenerated through fermentation and biopolymer processing. This regenerative cycle can be repeated indefinitely, offering a low carbon footprint alternative to conventional packaging polymers while meeting stringent industrial and environmental criteria.

Technical specifications

Core technology and processing:

• Formulation of multifaceted biopolymer combinations, including PHB (polyhydroxybutyrate), PLA, PBAT, microbial proteins, and (nano)cellulose
• Proprietary mechano-green chemical and biocatalytic processing for plastic production (make phase)
• Reactive extrusion depolymerization to convert post-consumer packaging back to starting materials or high-value chemicals (unmake phase)
• Fermentation and biopolymer processing for regeneration (remake phase)
• Biocolouring and thermoforming capabilities demonstrated in prototype shopping bags

Performance characteristics:

• Moisture and gas barrier performance equivalent to mainstay petroleum polymers
• Mechanical properties optimized to match fossil fuel-based plastics, including polyamide (PA) strength, polyethylene (PE) durability, and cost-effective barrier properties
• Biodegradable under home composting conditions, targeting Modified EN 13432 or ASTM 6400 standards at ambient temperatures
• Optimized recovery and stream separation of valuable chemicals from used packaging

Underpinning IP:

• Patent application WO2023088946A1 covers next-generation depolymerization technology that converts post-consumer polyester waste, including PET, back to its monomer terephthalic acid (TPA), which has been successfully adapted to polyester biopolymers such as PHB

Technology readiness level

The underlying depolymerization technology has been validated and adapted successfully to polyester biopolymers including PHB, demonstrating high TRL with strong commercialization potential. Prototype bio-plastic packaging products, including biocoloured PLA/PHB shopping bags, have already been produced. The project is currently expanding these successes toward full PakEco product development, with planned tasks covering biopolymer formulation and compounding, mechanical property optimization against fossil fuel benchmarks, and demonstration of full cyclability with life cycle assessment validation.