Plastic-to-paper substitutions gain backing

Global consumer products firm Johnson & Johnson is adopting a new paper-based e-commerce packaging material in the Philippines designed to replace what its supplier calls “nonrecyclable packaging materials.”

In another move involving paper and board sector attempts to gain market share from plastic, Sweden-based PulPac says it is poised to receive a European patent that will help further its ability to make additional products from molded fiber.

In the Philippines, Bangkok-based aCommerce Group and Johnson & Johnson have launched what they call a 100 percent recyclable form of packaging for e-commerce applications.

“We are committed to doing our part to leave a better world for future generations,” says Denise Peralta, Johnson & Johnson Philippines head of e-commerce. “We are excited to pilot our green e-commerce initiative with [websites] Shopee and Lazada, knowing that this ‘first step’ will help reduce plastic pollution that goes into our landfills and into our waterways. We hope that our consumers will take advantage of the offer when they order their favorite Johnson & Johnson products through Shopee and Lazada. Our consumers win, and so will our environment.”

Johnson & Johnson says the paper used in the new packaging is “100 percent recyclable, nontoxic, and biodegradable.” A paper-based VoidFill material acts as a box filler, replacing plastic bubble wrap. “An additional cushioning layer is added to fragile deliveries to ensure outstanding control against shock and vibrations,” the firm says, adding that a third layer called the Geami WrapPak layer is added “to avoid any surface abrasions, minor handling damages, and internal impact.”

The company continues, “The forecasted amount of plastic savings from this initiative would be equal to 106,684 square meters (1.1 million square feet) of plastic. The new packaging solution will replace previously non-recyclable packaging materials with new, innovative, green, and simple packaging, rolling out through the month of August.”

In Europe, PulPac says it has received its latest “intention to grant” from the European Patent Office (EPO) tied to its cellulose forming technology for fiber-based packaging and single-use products. The new patent grant involves a method for producing three-dimensional cellulose products from an air-formed cellulose blank structure in a rotary forming mold system.

PulPac says it continuously develops its already established dry molded fiber technology, and the rotary forming system will pose a viable alternative for certain products going forward. 

Peter Ekwall, chief intellectual property officer at PulPac, says, “In addition to the 30 patent families with 119 granted national patents and plus 50 pending patent applications, I expect an average of two new patent applications a month going forward.”

Pulpac describes dry molded fiber as a fiber forming technology that can replace single-use plastic with sustainable fiber-based alternatives at low cost. It can be made from tree and plant fibers or, in some cases, with recycled fiber.