Aquapak Polymers Ltd, a speicialist in polymer-based material technologies that can deliver both performance and environmental responsibility at scale, has today announced its Newcastle University Chemistry Undergraduate award-winning Stage 3 Industry Challenge, which sets students the task of identifying new ways of recycling complex polymer packaging structures. The students then have around eight weeks to investigate possible solutions that will also contribute in a positive way to the continued development of a circular economy.
 
This is a problem that the plastics and polymer industry and packaging developers have been trying to tackle in response to pressing consumer demand, NGO backlash over plastic use and the increasing weight of EU and government legislation such as the packaging tax and PPWR.
 
The industry is responding to try and find ways to recycle these complex multi-layer polymer constructions typically found in packaging without compromising much needed functionality such as extended sHelf-life, convenience, easy peel and lightweight.  Today’s packaging structures are often made up of different polymers defined by the functionality required, which is what makes them difficult to sort, separate and recycle. Students need to identify economically viable and scalable technologies and solutions which are already available or can be developed to enable the true recycling of these materials.
 
For example, Aquapak has successfully developed and commercialised Hydropol™, a highly functional, specialty environmental polymer that allows product design to support the circular economy – by enabling recycling and delivering multiple end-of-life options. It is designed to be an alternative to traditional plastics, offering their versatility and functionality but without harming the environment.
 
Developed and manufactured in the UK, Hydropol  is soluble, non-toxic and marine safe. Products made with Hydropol are safe for existing recycling processes and are fully biodegradable, leaving no trace or harmful plastic pollution should they enter the environment.
 
As an enabling technology, Hydropol can be used on its own or in combination with other materials to enhance recyclability, compostability and end-of-life options. Its material properties allow for scalability into diverse types of products and its solubility makes it easy to separate from other materials when recycling. For example, it can be extrusion coated onto paper or board giving strength and barrier properties against oxygen, oil and grease then made into a multitude of different applications.
 
To dispose, consumers can simply put the packaging into their household paper waste. The Hydropol layer is formulated to ‘wash off’ (dissolve) during the paper repulping process and then either biodegrades in the wastewater system or is turned into clean energy if the plant has an AD system.
 
Mark Lapping, Chief Executive Officer of Aquapak, says: “We have several active research projects in place with a number of universities to support the development of new materials like Hydropol. As a former student of Newcastle University myself it is fantastic to be able to reconnect with a new generation of Chemistry students and support their learning with a highly relevant challenge that the industry is grappling with right now. I’m confident their insights and fresh thinking will contribute to moving this important topic forward at Aquapak, as well as inspire more people to join the new plastics industry in future