Surrey University Wins Multimillion Project for Next-Generation Sustainable Packaging

Published on: 8 Feb, 2025
Updated on: 8 Feb, 2025

With over 60 per cent of packaging going into black bag waste, a multimillion-pound research project, called SustaPack, aims to to provide a viable solution to plastic pollution.

From left, Dr Hui Luo, Professor Robert Dorey and Professor Joseph Keddie (University of Surrey); Scott Winston, CEO Pulpex; Barrie Harvey, COO Pulpex; Dr Simon Hadfield and Professor Charley Wu (University of Surrey).

Backed by a £1 million grant from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), Pulpex Ltd, a packaging technology company, are match funding the project and working with the University of Surrey to refine its manufacturing processes.

Designing the next generation of production technology and materials requires novel and fundamental research to address current limitations, including new analytical techniques to improve product quality, optimising performance and reducing in-process imperfections.

Scott Winston, CEO at Pulpex, said: “Our SustaPack partnership will help us advance safe, sustainable packaging solutions, enabling brand owners to meet Net-Zero targets.”

A spokesperson for the project said: “A key feature of the packaging is its multi-layered barrier coating, which prevents contained liquid from leaking, as well as inward oxygen permeation, maintaining high-quality products for consumers.” To create a step-change in the energy usage in methods used to apply these coatings, the researchers plan to develop innovative processes that consume less energy and water while increasing the shelf life of packaged goods.

Professor Joseph Keddie, from the University of Surrey’s School of Mathematics and Physics, and Fellow of the Institute for Sustainability, said: “Our aim here is to combine novel coating processes, mechanistic modelling, computer vision and artificial intelligence (AI) to establish a ‘dry’ spray coating process that deposits food-safe, degradable coatings.

“This technology, which isn’t yet commercially available, will not only drive the next generation of packaging technology but will also contribute to a significant reduction in plastic pollution and lower carbon emissions from manufacturing.”

The spokesperson continued: “By applying innovative computer vision techniques powered by AI, the project aims to identify production defects in real-time, optimise materials and processes, and achieve 100% reliability in the manufactured products.”