Startup Creates Composite for Sustainable Flexible Packaging

With a population of 9.8 million in 2023, Israel is a David among the global Goliaths in innovation related to startup companies. Known as "Startup Nation," Israel ranked third globally in the number of startup companies, according to recent reports.

Which is one of the reasons I jumped on the opportunity to interview Daniel Friedmann, the new corporate director and board member of Tel Aviv-based Solutum Technologies Ltd. It’s a new-to-me company that “offers packaging manufacturers a solution with a holistic end of life, minimizing the environmental impact of flexible plastic packaging.”

As the new guy, Friedmann faces a daunting task: The global scaling of the company’s novel compound that produces sustainable packaging material.

He is eminently capable, having previously served as chairman and then also CEO of Carbon Engineering, a pioneering leader in direct air capture. His leadership culminated in the company’s largest investor acquiring additional company shares for $1.1 billion.

Back to packaging and according to the company, Solutum's compound works with conventional converter machinery and processes to produce a unique film. It can be composted in industrial composting or biodegrades in soil and water. The company claims the end-of-life has no impact on the environment.

The press release’s lack of detail further piqued my interest…and questions. Friedmann’s answers in our Q&A interview were edited for clarity and style. We start with an easy question…

Where does the name come from?

Friedmann: "Solutum" is derived from Latin, where "solutum" is a form of "solutus," which means "loosened," "dissolved," or "freed." In our case, it relates to our material being compostable and biodegradable in both water and soil, leaving no harm to the environment.

RICK LINGLE VIA CANVA

What can you tell us about the material?

Friedmann: Solutum has developed and patented a novel biodegradable compound, which can be used for packaging, one of the biggest plastic waste problems. Solutum is a composite material of readily available polymers, copolymers, and nonpolymeric materials.

These components combine and react to give Solutum its qualities of being soil and water biodegradable and compostable at its end of life. Additionally, the combination of compounds can be adapted to achieve specific mechanical properties, making it ideal for a broad range of flexible packaging applications. 

What’s the business case for Solutum’s solution?

Friedmann: More than 400 million tons of plastic are produced annually, of which approximately 40% is used for packaging. Flexible packaging, which makes up about 28% of all packaging, is very difficult to recycle. Only about 1% of flexible packaging gets recycled, while the vast majority goes to landfills, incineration, and at alarming rates — especially in developing countries — ends up polluting the planet. These plastics take centuries to degrade, harming natural habitats, waterways, and the health and safety of humanity.

Solutum offers a solution to reduce plastic waste. It resembles traditional plastic in appearance and feel and is crafted from commonly available polymers. Its differentiator from plastic, however, is in its unique end-of-life benefits.

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In managed settings, like industrial composting, Solutum can be composted, while in natural environments, including soil and water, it biodegrades, reducing the environmental impact of vast amounts of plastic waste that today end up in the environment.

Additionally, its mechanical properties are often superior to traditional plastics. This means that packaging manufacturers can reduce material required for packaging by using Solutum.  Solutum enables manufacturers to down-gauge packaging film, reducing the amount of material used and minimizing waste.

[Note: We then asked about "ingredient" sourcing, but Friedmann declined citing proprietary reasons.]

What’s the film’s status?

Friedmann: The company is now in the market entry phase after refining our material and demonstrating its effectiveness across various applications and geographies using automated machinery including major convertors, machine manufacturers, and brands in the US.

We have validated the material with several large players, including machinery partners and global packaging players. We are working with partners to get it out by the end of the year. More details on these partnerships will be forthcoming.

What plastic processes and end markets are appropriate?

Friedmann: Solutum compound is made in existing compounding machines by (outsourced) compounders. The compound can be converted to finished film or products (packages) by existing converters using their existing machines. Solutum’s sustainable packaging has high tensile strength, inherent anti-static properties, and a good oxygen and oil barrier, making it a versatile material for a broad range of packaging applications across pharma, electronics and food and beverage applications.

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What do you see as likely initial applications?

Friedmann: Our primary focus is on food packaging that requires strong oxygen and oil barriers, along with robust mechanical properties, including both flexible plastic packaging and paper-laminated options. Additionally, we provide a solution for end-of-line packaging, particularly advantageous for the pharmaceutical sector, where multiple primary packages need to be securely bundled together.

What can it replace? And is it cost competitive?

Friedmann: Solutum replaces polyethylene in packaging films as well as barrier applications, which today are primarily made with polyamides or ethylene vinyl alcohol. Solutum can also replace the plastic laminate layer in laminated paper packaging while maintaining the recyclability of paper.

While on a per kilo basis Solutum is more expensive than “normal” plastics, it is very strong in terms of its mechanical properties, allowing manufacturers to use less material for most applications and thereby making it competitive with normal plastics.  Other material characteristics that provide value include a strong oxygen and oil barrier ideal for food packing.

From the sustainability perspective, Solutum helps companies meet several end-of-life requirements for plastic films and laminated paper.

In making the shift to more sustainable materials, manufacturers often incur costs based on required capital expenditures for machinery or to adapt processes. Because Solutum is compatible with current machinery and processes, manufacturers can seamlessly shift to sustainable packaging.

Are there any other advantages to point out?

Friedmann: Regardless of where Solutum ends up, when used as a film it returns to the environment without any impact. When Solutum is used as a lamination barrier film for paper packaging, it acts as a recycling enabler. Today laminated paper packaging is difficult and costly to recycle. Solutum enables currently unrecyclable laminated paper to be easily recyclable to comply with regulations.