Primex has launched its new Prime Sulapac sheets, a biobased material developed by Finnish company Sulapac.
The sheets, now available in the US, are crafted from a mixture of wood derived from industrial side streams and biopolymers.
This product seeks to offer an alternative to traditional plastics utilised in packaging applications.
Primex said the product’s composition merges the visual appeal of natural fibres with the resilience and functionality typically associated with plastics.
Engineered for thermoforming, the Sulapac solution features a high biobased content and is certified as industrially compostable by the Biodegradable Products Institute.
The material is claimed to possess a low carbon footprint and is also mechanically recyclable.
Prime Sulapac also features natural insulating properties, which permit a more forgiving processing window compared to other biobased materials.
This characteristic allows for reduced thermoforming temperature requirements, potentially resulting in energy savings of up to 20% through shorter heating durations.
Sulapac growth and innovations manager Joona Kontinen said: “Our key design principle is to create materials that are safe for people and the planet. To ensure this, we conduct rigorous testing – with internal standards often light years ahead of regulation.”
Primex’s Prime Sulapac sheets are positioned as substitutes for conventional plastics such as polystyrene (PS), polypropylene (PP), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET).
They are appropriate for a variety of thermoformed products, including packaging inserts, point-of-sale displays, logistic trays, single-use food packaging, and blister cards.
Primex Sales vice-president Kees Bras said: “At Primex, we believe sustainability should never mean compromise. With Prime Sulapac, we’re offering our customers a material that is as responsible as it is reliable – and as beautiful as it is biodegradable.”
