Recyclable low-cost PLA packaging from food waste
Corumat, Inc. introduces a revolutionary PLA packaging solution that is recyclable with food waste, reducing material use and cost. This lightweight packaging is made from post-consumer food waste and outperforms conventional plastics in price and sustainability.
Overview
Corumat, Inc. has developed an innovative packaging solution that utilizes polylactic acid (PLA) derived from post-consumer food waste. This packaging not only reduces material usage by two-thirds compared to traditional plastics, but it is also industrially compostable and economically competitive. By integrating a patented lightweight structure and manufacturing process, the solution enables significant cost savings and sustainability, as it can be recycled alongside food waste, creating lactic acid from both the packaging and organic waste streams.
Technical specifications
Key features:
- Made from PLA derived from post-consumer food waste
- Utilizes a patented lightweight structure, reducing material use by two-thirds
- Economically competitive with conventional plastics, despite PLA's higher raw material cost
- Industrially compostable and recyclable with food waste, turning waste into lactic acid
Applications:
- Suitable for a wide range of packaging needs, replacing conventional PET and polystyrene containers
- Applicable in industries focused on sustainability and cost-efficiency, such as food and beverage, consumer goods, and more
Technology readiness level
This solution has undergone extensive validation, including thousands of hours of container production and pilot trials with major corporations. It is currently at Technology Readiness Level 8, indicating that it is ready for commercial deployment with existing manufacturing partners.
About Corumat, Inc.
Corumat, Inc. is a materials science company founded in 2013 that specializes in micro-engineering sustainable, plant-based materials to replace conventional plastics. The company uses a patented manufacturing process to create lightweight, durable, and heat-stable structures that require significantly less material than traditional petroleum-based plastics. Its primary focus is on decarbonizing the packaging and waste industries through products that are compostable and often carbon-negative. The company's technology is versatile, with applications spanning food service packaging, sporting goods, transportation materials, and building insulation.
Corumat addresses critical environmental challenges by developing the Big Green Loop, an ecosystem designed to divert food and organic waste from landfills and convert them back into compostable packaging. This approach aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat ocean plastic pollution by creating profitable waste infrastructure. The company has demonstrated its technology through pilot programs and collaborations with research institutions, including the USDA. Corumat has successfully secured over $5 million in non-dilutive grant funding from organizations such as the EPA, the National Science Foundation, and the USDA to support its research, development, and scaling efforts.
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