Notpla
Imperial College London | Design Engineering

Developing natural coatings to make paper packaging perform like plastic

The issue of microplastics is gaining mainstream attention and associated health implications are coming to light. Paper packaging is starting to appear on shop shelves, however hidden layers of plastic are required within this to ensure high barriers against water, oxygen and grease. This limits its recyclability and compostability. Addressing this challenge requires selecting natural materials that combine the functional performance of conventional plastics with a truly sustainable solution, allowing packaging to disappear as quickly as a fruit peel.

Sonia’s research will build on Notpla’s work with seaweed-derived materials to develop new coating formulations for high-barrier packaging solutions. The project will explore the fundamental polymer chemistry of natural materials from lab to pilot scale, resulting in coating solutions that match plastic benchmark properties while complying with the EU Single-Use Plastics Directive. By combining materials science with design and process engineering, this research could help bring naturally derived coatings closer to wider industrial use and support the transition to packaging with a lower environmental footprint.