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Bacterial cellulose based packaging coatings
The global packaging industry faces a dual crisis: growing environmental harm from plastic and aluminum-based multilayer composites, and increasingly strict regulations demanding full recyclability by 2030. Despite their effectiveness in protecting food and goods, these fossil-based materials are difficult to recycle, often ending up incinerated or in landfills. They contribute to alarming levels of microplastic pollution and toxic residues—raising both environmental and public health concerns. The Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) and similar EU frameworks now require systemic change, pressuring businesses to eliminate non-recyclable formats and develop circular alternatives.
Yet, finding viable replacements is no small feat. Many bio-based coatings fail to meet industrial performance standards or cannot integrate into existing recycling systems. Alternatives like algae or chitosan coatings suffer from poor durability or problematic sourcing. Even promising biomaterials often require chemical additives or complex separation processes, limiting their real-world application. To meet this urgent need, packaging solutions must deliver high barrier performance, recyclability, biodegradability, and cost-effectiveness—all while being compatible with industrial production and global supply chains.
tonnes of packaging waste per year in the EU
To meet this challenge, Treeless and ZHAW are pioneering a new class of packaging coatings based on bacterial cellulose—a naturally occurring, biodegradable material produced through low-energy microbial fermentation. Unlike conventional bioplastics, bacterial cellulose integrates seamlessly into existing paper recycling systems and delivers exceptional oxygen and grease barrier properties, making it a viable alternative to aluminum and plastic composites. Through targeted modifications and formulation with other natural additives, the project aims to develop a fully recyclable, mono-material coating that meets industrial requirements for performance and scalability. With the support of key industry stakeholders, this partnership is turning microbial innovation into a practical, circular solution for the future of sustainable packaging.
“Bacterial cellulose transforms packaging from a pollutant into a promise—clean, circular, and ready for tomorrow.”
By harnessing the invisible power of microorganisms, this project reimagines packaging from the ground up—transforming waste into value, and coatings into climate solutions. It proves that the future of packaging can be both high-performing and regenerative, aligning industry with the planet’s needs.
