Bio-based solutions start-up company Melodea, is the green-tech producer of sustainable barrier coatings for packaging, which now plans to expand its eco-friendly solution to more areas. The move is set to support increased production capacity of its plastic-free, plant-based barrier coatings to enter the US and South American markets.
Melodea responds to the astounding amount of waste produced by single-use plastics by producing a barrier coating material sourced from wood pulp, a sidestream of the paper-making industry. This green solution is helping food, beverage, and consumer goods packagers cut unwanted ties with plastic. The company has developed a formula derived from cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) that can withstand high humidity and protects packed products from oxygen, water, oil, and grease.
The material provides an alternative to plastic and aluminum for maintaining the quality and integrity of packaged foods. It is also biodegradable, fully recyclable, and non-toxic to people or the environment. The material is currently being used for the manufacture of paper-based molded pulp trays, pouches, lids, and more.
Melodea’s two leading products are MelOx, which protects packaged products from oxygen, oil and grease transmission; and VBcoat, which counteracts the transmission of water, oil, and grease.
Because of the increasing demand from the US market, Melodea will operate a toll manufacturing plant in the US, allowing for cost-effective production, shipping and easier logistics of both VBcoat and MelOx. All of Melodea’s barrier coatings are in compliance with FDA regulations for food packaging.
Melodea’s local shipping from the US site should begin within the next 3 to 6 months as it starts production of its barrier coatings with a local US partner.
According to Straits Research, the global green packaging market size had a revenue holding of $229.46 billion in 2021. It is expected to reach $409.2 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 7.5% from 2022–2030. Demand for molded pulp packaging is predicted to increase 6.2% per year through 2026, finds a new Freedonia Group analysis.
