Xinova is seeking new, sustainable materials for a gas barrier in shelf-stable aseptic packaging. The ideal material(s) should provide a barrier against oxygen, water vapor, light, and (preferably) volatiles/odors. The material may come from renewable or non-renewable sources, so long as it meets the requirements.
Existing aseptic packaging used to safely store and extend the shelf life of juices, coffee, soups, and other liquid food products is recyclable, but because the packaging contains paper, plastic, and metal layers that cannot be easily separated, it is typically downcycled into non-recyclable products. Xinova wants to create an aseptic package that is compatible with circular economy goals of continual reuse of materials and zero waste. One step toward that goal replaces the aluminum gas barrier layer in conventional aseptic packaging with a material that simplifies recycling and reduces the environmental impact of the package. The new material must make the packaging either
Aseptic packaging is a shelf-stable solution for liquid products such as juice, coffee, and soups. The packaging, comprised mainly of cellulose fibers, is coated with multiple barrier materials, including polyethylene (PE), which serves as a water barrier, and aluminum, which provides a gas and light barrier. The package’s multiple layers protect the product within from degradation or spoilage for months at room temperature, thereby reducing the need for preservatives.
While aseptic packaging can be recycled in many (though not all) areas, it is not currently a circular process. Due to the difficulty in fully separating thermoplastics and aluminum from the cellulose, all components are down-cycled rather than re-used to create new aseptic packaging. They are made into roof shingles, plastic lumber, or similar products that are durable but not recyclable. Furthermore, many of the layers in aseptic packaging are made of fossil-fuel-based polymers, rather than low-carbon, renewable alternatives.
For the gas barrier, aluminum is still regarded as an ideal oxygen and moisture barrier. Many alternative materials being explored either do not provide the same barrier properties , are too rigid or brittle for use in packages with creases, or are not widely available or scalable to high volume production. There is, therefore, a need for an alternative gas barrier material that meets these requirements in order to:
Many manufacturing companies are moving toward a circular economy, where all materials are reused as many times as possible and never end up as waste. Doing so reduces the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and other environmental impacts associated with creating materials from fossil fuels and other non-renewable sources. Single-use food and beverage packaging comprises a significant portion of municipal solid waste and diverting that waste will also mitigate landfill capacity concerns. Replacing the aluminum gas barrier layer in aseptic packaging is one step toward creating an aseptic container that is either 1) fully recyclable and capable of being reprocessed into high-value products or 2) industrially compostable if made entirely from biodegradable materials. Such a container would also meet upcoming guidelines on single-use plastics and composite materials that are coming from the European Union (EU).
NOTE: Solutions will be evaluated in part by how well they address the expected performance relative to the requirements below. Use any information available to you, such as relevant measurements, other data, or assessments based on physical properties.
An ideal solution will encompass these key requirements:
Requirements for Commercial Feasibility:
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This challenge is brought to you by Xinova in partnership with HeroX - dedicated to bringing innovative thinking to the world through social networks. A Xinova client has sponsored this opportunity.
Chosen ideas receive step payments along the review and commercialization chain, from Xinova’s selection to client selection to implementation. If your idea is patented or becomes a trade secret you get paid for that too. Selected ideas can earn up to $15,000 USD by the time it is patented or designated as a trade secret!
| Open for Submissions | Now |
| Submission Deadline | February 3, 2020 ,11:59 PM PDT |
| Solution Review | All solutions will be reviewed. If your idea is selected, it will be presented to the client which could lead to it being patented or turned into a trade secret. |
| Winners Announced | March 5, 2020, 11:59PM PDT |
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Our curated network of 12,000 innovators and experts propel growth across the full innovation lifecycle. We partner with visionary leaders to share the risk and reward of innovation.
Think beyond.
Why Should I Join the Xinova Innovator Network?
Are you or your team seeking monetary rewards for great ideas?
Do you stay awake at night thinking about ideas that positively impact business or society? Ideas that you’d like to see become a reality? If so, you know that the road from concept to commercialization is often filled with risks and obstacles. That’s where Xinova comes in. We pay you for the part you love, and handle the rest. Sign-up now.
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