Recyclability and compostability of next generation sustainable flexible food packaging materials

In the UK, nearly 70% of the plastic waste originates from plastic packaging. To tackle this major issue, companies involved in the value chain of packaging materials, ranging from raw material producers and convertors to brand owners and retailers, have committed to using 100 % recyclable, reusable or compostable packaging materials by 2025. 

There are three different approaches that can be applied to develop material solutions for sustainable flexible barrier packaging:

• Firstly, mono-material polyolefin based flexible packaging, which is compatible with the current mechanical recycling stream;
• Secondly, compostable/biodegradable flexible packaging, which decomposes under industrial or home-composting conditions or is even marine-degradable;
• Thirdly, paper/fibre based packaging which is suitable to be processed in the existing paper recycling stream.

The three pillars are part of Bobst Manchester’s sustainability agenda and the development of flexible packaging solutions is targeted for each of them. In collaboration with Bobst Manchester, this PhD project, therefore, focuses on the development, optimisation and characterisation of sustainable flexible barrier packaging, considering recyclable mono-material polyolefin-based, paper-based and additionally compostable/biodegradable material solutions. 

The successful applicant will be expected to start in April 2022 and will become a part of Manchester Met's Advanced Materials and Surface Engineering Research Centre.