A bio-based coating making packaging waterproof

A novel coating could replace the use of unrecyclable wax- or plastic-lined packaging

Spotted: Single-use plastic packaging is highly unsustainable. However, wax- or plastic-coated alternatives are not much better as they are difficult to recycle or compost. Australian materials startup, Earthodic, hopes to change this with a bio-based coating solution it calls ‘Paperbarc’.

The company’s proprietary coating for pulp and paper products contains 100 per cent USDA certified bio-based content. According to Earthodic, Paperbarc can also be repulped, recycled, and composted, unlike many wax and plastic-coated products.

Paperbarc could represent a more sustainable alternative for use in agricultural and food packaging that requires both water resistance and structural integrity. For example, it could replace the wax-coated boxes often used for fruit, vegetable, and seafood storage and transport.

The company has recently raised $1.85 million (around €1.7 million) in an oversubscribed pre-seed funding round led by Tenacious Ventures and Investible. The funds will be used to scale up the technology, increase marketing efforts, and expand the intellectual property portfolio.

With the growing consensus that single-use plastic packaging is unsustainable, there is a concerted push to find alternatives. In the archive, Springwise has also spotted a wool-based bubble wrap and reusable containers for the made-to-order food industry.

Written By: Lisa Magloff