Develop and manufacture a resealable consumer packaging based only on biomaterials

Important results from the project

The product that we have developed and manufactured is a container with closing function which is only made from forest raw material. The requirements we place on the product is that it must be in demand on the market. The product must have characteristics that make it not only a disposable packaging but used by the consumer until the contents have been consumed. The closing mechanism makes it easy to reseal. The outside can be smooth or have ribbed grip surfaces. Newly developed pressing technology with forming of cellulose under high pressure has been used. The product can be recycled 100%.

Expected long term effects

The goal of dry-forming cellulose in the form of a loosely assembled mat with a high pressure and with soft and hard tool parts for a RTF (ready to fill) packaging has been successful. The product can be manufactured with accurate measurements and with sharp details and edges. At high pressures, the material has a high strength which makes it possible to reseal the package. Other properties of the packaging are that we get a good distribution of the fiber mat in the finished product. Several different fiber mats with different properties have been tried with good results.

Approach and implementation

In the project, various cellulose-based fiber materials have been developed, manufactured, and investigated. Forming tools have been designed and tested. In practical testing, the quality of the product has been linked to various process parameters and the design of the tool. Experience from practical experiments means that today we better understand the advantages and disadvantages of the manufacturing method and which aspects should be considered when designing an industrial production tool. In an industrial application, the cycling speed need to be increased.