Walki and Lactips partner on casein for paper food packaging

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In Finland, food packaging manufacturer Walki and Lactips, a French company developing bioplastics based on the dairy protein casein, are collaborating to develop paper-based food packaging with a casein-based biopolymer coating.

The new packaging material is expected to possess heat-sealing properties and grease barriers, making it compatible with existing packaging lines. Mats Käldström, R&D manager at Walki, tells Packaging Europe, using Lactips’ water-soluble and biodegradable coating in Walki’s packaging will allow its products to be recycled within the paper stream.

Under the terms of the agreement, Lactips will supply Walki with the biopolymer, enabling the packaging manufacturer to conduct pilot tests using paper and cardboard as substrate materials at its Technical Competence Center in Pietarsaari, Finland.

Lactips, founded in 2014, operates a production facility in the Pays de la Loire region of France with an annual capacity of 3,000 tons.