Solenis has been named as one of only 12 winners in the NextGen Cup Challenge, a global innovation competition backed by giants of the food-service industry to redesign and create a widely recyclable and/or compostable fiber hot and cold to-go cup. The Challenge attracted nearly 500 entries from more than 50 countries.
Solenis received the award in the Innovative Cup Liners category for its TopScreen™ recyclable and compostable barrier coatings technology.
Solenis TopScreen barrier coatings are suitable for packaging applications that require specific liquid/moisture vapor barrier properties and can replace barriers composed of polyethylene (PE). In the same family are formulations designed to replace perfluorocarbon (PFC) in a variety of applications where grease resistance and moisture vapor barrier properties are required.
TopScreen formulations are produced with a minimum or no fossil fuel components and a maximum of sustainably sourced raw materials. Ideal as a more sustainable and cost-effective barrier option for PE-free cups, Solenis TopScreen barrier coatings can be used to produce fully recyclable and repulpable paper and paperboard packaging. TopScreen barrier coatings can be applied on paper machine coaters or offline coating equipment, providing flexibility for cup makers and utilization of existing cup-making equipment. As a truly global materials supplier, Solenis is uniquely positioned to implement the TopScreen barrier coating solution for paper cups anywhere in the world.
More than 250 billion fiber to-go cups are used annually. The PE lining that keeps them from leaking also prevents them from being recycled or composted. Instead, they wind up in landfills or waterways, contributing to the growing plastics pollution problem.
The NextGen Cup Challenge was initiated by the NextGen Consortium, a multi-year partnership of leading food-service industry players convened by Closed Loop Partners to address single-use food packaging waste globally.
“This is outstanding recognition for the great work done over the past several years by our research and development team,” said Larry Hutchinson, Solenis global market development manager for Consumer Board. “The demand for a more sustainable paper cup is growing worldwide and this award confirms that Solenis is among the leaders in providing an immediate and viable solution.”
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