FP Paradigm Pty Ltd (FPP) R&D is seeking to transition the current food packaging standard of transparent petroleum-based material to transparent non-petroleum based sustainable material that is commercially viable within five years. The challenge lies in embedding a circular economy framework within the manufacture of transparent food packaging materials at scale while retaining or improving final product properties and quality (e.g., transparency, long-term durability, stability, strength). This project aims to develop a process which uses carbon dioxide (CO₂)-containing waste streams as the foundation for manufacturing transparent food packaging materials (via thermoforming), moving away from petroleum-derived products. CO₂ emissions from the gasification of biomass from agri-food wastes and/or waste plastic will be utilised in conjunction with water (H₂O) and sunlight to fabricate monomers. The monomers are the building blocks for polymers used to formulate the plastics used to manufacture the transparent food packaging materials.
