An Israeli company brings cellulose nanocrystal barrier coating to the U.S. market
Israeli tech start-up Melodea will bring barrier coatings to the U.S. market and build a manufacturing facility to support increased capacity. Bio-based formulations are derived from cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) to steer the barrier industry away from single-use plastics.
Plant-based barrier coatings are plastic-free and derived from wood pulp for food, beverage, cosmetic and consumer packaging. CNC can withstand high humidity and protect packaged products from oxygen, water, oil and grease.
plant-based plastics
Cellulose is a major component of all plant cell walls, making it the most abundant biopolymer on Earth. The company reports that the global nanocellulose market is currently worth approximately $346 million and is expected to grow to $963 million by 2026.
"CNCs from naturally abundant and renewable cellulose are emerging as one of the most promising green solutions to help replace environmentally harmful materials," Lapidot said.
"Out of the millions of tons of plastic waste generated each year, single-use plastic packaging is the worst culprit. At the same time, their barriers provide an alternative to plastic and aluminum for maintaining the quality and integrity of packaged food," the company said.
Nanocrystal Sourcing
Our goal is to eliminate the generation of plastic waste that pollutes our environment in the oceans and on land. The company applies proprietary technology to extract cellulose nanocrystals from wood pulp from trees grown in industrial forests. Being plant-based, the company's coatings are biodegradable, fully recyclable and non-toxic to humans or the environment.
Melodea CFO Zvika Weiss said: “Our CNCs are sustainably produced, recycling around 95% of the material in the process, and their superior performance has been proven through academic research. CNCs have enormous potential to reverse plastic pollution a range of negative impacts that have long been a pressing environmental issue.”
The new manufacturing facility will optimize the production, transportation and streamlined logistics of its two main products: MelOx and VBcoat, which were released last year. MelOx protects packaged products from the transport of oxygen, oil and grease, while VBcoat counteracts the transfer of water, oil and grease.
The material is currently used to make paper-based bags, lids, molded pulp trays, and more. Melodea recently partnered with a manufacturer of plant-based fiber solutions. The company will manufacture and sell a variety of packaging products infused with the MelodeaVBcoat moisture barrier. The first product launched in this collaboration is a moulded pulp-lined tray with Melodeas coating, designed to replace existing plastic. The company estimates that it will begin shipping from stateside within the next three to six months.
"Our products will be more accessible and affordable to the U.S. market. We anticipate this will lead to a variety of packaging products containing Melodea’s barrier coating and hopefully reduce the amount of plastic on the shelf,” Lapidot concluded.
