Materials and technologies – June 2026
Rectangular Aromat packaging recycles better
On 28 May 2026, Katinka van der Spek held a presentation entitled ‘Redesign of Unilever Aromat’s cylindrical plastic packaging for compliance with the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation‘ as part of her master assignment at the University of Twente. Chairman of the assessment committee was prof. Roland ten Klooster who holds the NVC Chair Packaging Design and Management. Her thesis (7.44 MB) shows that Unilever’s Aromat cylindrical PP packaging fails recyclability targets due to rolling behaviour during NIR sorting (<70% efficiency). A rectangular format improves sortability.
New tool for biodegradability screening of materials
Not all biobased plastics are biodegradable, nor should they be if durability is needed. Maarten van der Zee, senior researcher at Wageningen University and Research (WUR), explains that his team is developing a high-capacity, micro-sensor testing method. This tool helps manufacturers screen new materials for biodegradability early in development.
Rapid breakdown of plastic waste
Researchers led by Dr. Jennifer Garden from the University of Edinburgh and colleagues at RPTU University Kaiserslautern-Landau have developed a scalable one-step upcycling method. By substituting oxygen with sulfur atoms, they transform widely used plastics into polythionoesters—eco-friendly alternatives that break down much more rapidly and easily. The study (12 MB) is published in Chem Circularity.
AI rapidly designs biodegradable plastics
Assistant professor Po-Yen Chen and his team of researchers at the University of Maryland (UMD) are combining AI, machine learning, and robotics to discover eco-friendly alternatives to single-use plastics. Automating ingredient screening enables rapid development of biodegradable packaging.
Tailoring bio-blends to replace petro-plastics
At the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research (IAP), researchers led by Dr. Antje Lieske have developed bio-based polyester blends as sustainable alternatives to conventional polyolefins like polyethylene and polypropylene. The study (3.8 MB) is published in Polymers.
Forest side streams for packaging materials
For her doctoral thesis (6.3 MB) at Aalto University, Sahar Babaeipour developed bio‑based coatings for packaging applications using lignin, a forest industry side stream. The coatings improve resistance to moisture, oxygen and oils while remaining recyclable.
100% cellulose-based films and coatings
The VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland and LUT University have developed 100% cellulose-based films and coatings within the F3 project, coordinated by researcher Ali Harlin. These materials combine plastic-like barrier and mechanical performance with recyclability or biodegradability.
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