ChristyD
Thu, 04/09/2025 – 08:04
The bioeconomy is a hot topic these days, right up at the top of policy agendas. It involves using renewable natural resources as a raw material. The circular bioeconomy introduces circularity into this concept: using what would otherwise be thrown away, using spent biological resources to regenerate ecosystems and minimising waste.
The ECESP website has a good selection of circular bioeconomy-themed content. This series will shine a spotlight on it.
Circular bioeconomy concept: a bio-based alternative to plastic
Sulapac, a Finnish start-up, has created a safe and circular alternative to traditional plastic.
Sulapac® materials are made of 55% to 100% certified bio-based ingredients. The company aims to have reached 50% recycled content and side stream raw materials by 2025, and ultimately 100%. They use feedstock from industrial and agricultural side streams and the wood, which comprises the majority of many of the materials, is from industrial side streams from sustainably harvested forests. The materials are non-toxic and microplastic-free. Most of the materials can be both mechanically and chemically recycled and all are biodegradable via industrial or in some cases home composting.
Sulapac® is available as either granules for industrial processing or as final products such as drinking straws and cosmetics jars. The granules are suitable for injection molding, extrusion, thermoforming and 3D printing and can be used with existing plastic product manufacturing machinery, making it a commercially sound replacement for plastic. Sulapac® can be used for a variety of applications such as cosmetics packaging, personal care items, and clothing hangers. The company has also introduced the world’s most sustainable mass-producible straw, which doesn’t harm the ecosystem if it accidentally ends up in the ocean.
Results
- Sulapac® is a solution for the circular economy. It uses industrial and agricultural side streams.
- If Sulapac® material accidentally ends up in the natural environment, it can be digested by naturally occurring microorganisms into CO2, H2O and biomass leaving no microplastics behind.
- There are different variations of the material, and the Sulapac® Universal and Premium Materials for injection molding are 100% plant-based. Due to the high percentage of plant-based raw materials, Sulapac® is a way to reduce a product’s carbon footprint.
- Sulapac® material complies with EU regulations on food and chemicals.
