UnPlastic
The Alternative to Single-Use Plastics
UnPlastic is our answer to single-use plastics: a functional, compostable and non-plastic alternative that releases no toxins. It is circular, made from food industry sources, by-products, and beer waste, and will never break down into micro- or nanoplastics.
Let’s UnPlastic this planet!
Why We Need Other Options
The single-use plastics widely used are damaging our environment and health at a massive scale.
They make up almost half of the plastics produced worldwide. Single-use packaging is essential to keep food fresh for longer and protect it from contamination, as already 40% of the food globally produced every year goes to waste.
Few know that plastics leak harmful toxins into the foods they contain, like phthalates, one of the classes of additives added to plastics to enhance certain properties. These compounds are linked to a host of health problems including diabetes and male infertility.
The process of producing and burning single-use plastics gives rise to about 850 million metric tons of CO2 every year. That’s roughly 425,000 balloons of greenhouse gases, each the size of the New York Empire State Building.
After use, most single-use plastics end up in landfills, burned and broken down into harmful microplastics, releasing toxic compounds in the process.
There are great initiatives addressing these issues, but we’re not there yet. Recycling plastic is not the panacea we hoped for. Many other bio-based materials have drawbacks that keep them from being implemented at scale.
With UnPlastic we offer an alternative to the challenges we currently face.The Solution: UnPlastic!
Functional, Compostable & Non-Plastic
UnPlastic is our answer to single-use plastics: a functional, compostable and non-plastic alternative that releases no toxins into the environment.
UnPlastic is a circular product, made from food industry sources, by-products and brewery waste. Its composition means it is functional, compostable, and totally non-plastic. Hence it never breaks down into micro- or nanoplastics.
What makes UnPlastic a genuine alternative for single-use plastics and fit for commercial use, are its properties: flexible, lightweight, transparent, colorless and odorless. It has an excellent barrier against fats, oils and oxygen, helping to preserve products.
With UnPlastic we will offer an alternative to commercial single-use packaging that minimizes plastic waste, and addresses the global problem of food waste.
It is not the only solution, but it is a very good one for a very big problem.
UnPlastic Features
Biodegradable & Non-Plastic
UnPlastic biodegrades in soil and water, and never breaks down into micro- or nanoplastics. It leaves no harmful traces in the natural environment.
Lightweight & Flexible
The material is flexible and lightweight, making it ideal for packaging products.
Extends Shelf Life
UnPlastic has exceptional barriers against fats, oils and oxygen, extending the shelf life of products.
Non-Toxic, Non-Allergenic & Vegan
UnPlastic is free of toxins, allergens, and animal products.
Circular
UnPlastic can be created from already existing food production streams and waste, minimizing the depletion of natural resources.
Semi-Transparent
UnPlastic foil is semi-transparent, so consumers can see what is inside.
Odorless
Unlike many other packaging alternatives, UnPlastic is free of odors, leaving no unintended smells or flavors.
Can Be Made From Beer
By making UnPlastic using brewery waste, one of our favorite beverages becomes a world savior.
Projected Timeline for Development & Commercialization
2023-2024
- Launch & evaluate pilots
- Wrap up last pilot
- Finalize & certify UnPlastic
- Prepare for market launch
2025
-Focus on Demo scale production & optimization
-Commercialization defining production schedules & certifications
2026 and beyond
-Acceleration and expansion
-Rapid scaling and progression of applications
Want to Partner up?
Currently we are in the proof of concept phase. We aim to design a product that can be scaled quickly and effectively, by iteratively developing UnPlastic so it fits the market’s needs.
To achieve this we are searching for partners within packaging, manufacturing and consumer goods companies to develop the product stepwise together.
By developing it in a lean and agile manner and continuously testing, our goal is to have UnPlastic market-ready within 2 years.
Want to become a pioneer in the Blue Economy? Partner up and make it happen!
Using Brewery Waste To Save The World
Who knew a pint of lager could make such an incredible product as UnPlastic? But it can: Using beer waste, combined with other food industry streams and by-products, we make the versatile and compostable foil that’s our flagship product. Let us explain to you how.
While many of us know and enjoy the taste of beer, fewer of us know the waste that occurs while making it. Brewing beer includes various stages of grinding, mixing, boiling and filtering a list of ingredients. These can differ per type of beer, but usually include barley, yeast and hops.
At each stage waste is occurring. Barley grains arrive in plastic bags, grains and hops are left after mashing and boiling, and cleaning and rinsing at each stage requires a great deal of freshwater. For every liter of beer we drink, an estimated 6 liters of freshwater is poured down the drain.
By combining beer brewery waste with other food industry sources and by-products, plus a bit of Outlander magic, we turn it into a functional and compostable foil that’s entirely non-plastic.
“I am a firm believer in the people. If given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet any national crisis. The great point is to bring them the real facts, and beer.”
Abraham Lincoln
Use & Impact
UnPlastic is designed as an alternative for single-use plastics. Think of single-use convenience items packaging like cookie and candy wrappers. Currently single-use plastics contribute massively to the worldwide emission of CO2 and global warming. They can also release toxic substances and breakdown into microplastics. UnPlastic, being a functional, compostable, and circular alternative, can improve health and our environment at scale.
Vision for the Future
We want to turn materials like UnPlastic into common resources for the packaging world. After commercialization, we will further develop end applications for foils and coatings within the flexible packaging market, and explore non-packaging applications for the raw products. Our other long-term goal is to become a technology provider. Licensing of Outlander materials will provide decentralized production of the raw product to as many companies as possible, replacing unsustainable materials and reducing waste around the globe.
People & Planet First
Everything we do is with the goal of making this planet a better place for us all. By making circular products, minimizing consumption of natural resources and waste, we create the healthy ecosystem we need for all life to thrive.
Want to Make an Impact?
We have the power to choose our future. Together we can create a world where waste does not exist. By partnering up or backing us, we can make sustainable and circular materials have impact at scale, and create true and lasting change.
The power is yours!
Our Achievements
Postcode Lotteries - Green Challenge 2020 Nominee
Read More
Featured in PBS NewsHour
Documentary - The Plastic Problem
Read More
ASN Bank World Award 2019 Finalist
Read More
ING Circular Enterprise Award 2019 Finalist
Read More
SXSW - New Dutch Wave 2019 Pitch Contest Winner
Read More
BioVoice Challenger - 2019 Cargill Packaging Innovation Winner
Read More