Graphene Compostable Barrier Packaging (GraCoPack)

"**GraCoPack** is a collaboration between industry and academia to develop technology that will assist in the reduction of plastics entering the waterways, oceans and other unfriendly disposal routes, thereby reducing the toxic effect on marine life and eliminating the need for landfill and incineration.

Presently plastic films, many used in the packaging of food products find themselves polluting the environment. Even those materials designated recyclable are rarely recycled. This is due to both the lack of collection of plastic films by county councils and the difficulty in using recycled plastics back in the supply chain. Even if a recycling scheme was introduced many plastic films are in fact several films (not always the same polymers) adhered together and as such are not recyclable.

There are a number of sustainable materials available for the packaging of food items, such as paper, both recyclable and compostable and cellulose materials that are compostable. Both however, suffer in that they do not have inherent barrier properties that are required for both the preservation of food in the supply chain and the safety of food. Food can be adversely affected by the ingress of water vapour and oxygen both of which have an adverse effect on food safety and shelf life. Compostable laminated barrier structures are available but are three times more expensive than present structures and therefore have not been adopted by major clients.

**GraCoPack's** objective is to develop and manufacture a coating from Graphene that can be applied to paper or cellulose materials that when applied will give the same or better barrier properties than laminated non-recyclable polymer structures. This coating is capable for being applied using specific coating technology that will allow the substitution of environmentally harmful plastics for sustainable or recycled alternatives.

Once in production food or indeed pharmaceutical packaging would have the necessary barriers to ensure food / medical quality, enhance shelf life and maintain product safety whilst remaining cost effective. However, the huge difference against existing plastic structures is that these new packages will be fully recyclable / compostable and thus will make a significant difference to the environment."