100% Bio-Based Flexible Packaging You Can Flush

A sustainable packaging advance for direct food contact, PureNil 0, is water-soluble and can be recycled with paper or safely flushed down the drain.

Image: SmartSolve.

SmartSolve introduced PureNil 0, a flexible packaging material that the company reports to be the world’s first 100% bio-based and flushable substrate. The fast-dissolving, water-soluble flexible packaging material is designed to “go beyond recyclability” in helping brands achieve advanced sustainability goals. 

The company reports that PureNil 0, targeting pouching requirements, is “food contact safe and perfectly suited for dry products.” It consists of two layers. The outer layer is made from responsibly sourced wood pulp fibers and cellulose. The inner sealant layer uses 100% bio-based heat-seal material. 

This is the first product in the company’s new PureNil Series of materials. Composed entirely from renewable resources, it eliminates synthetic polymers and petroleum-based inputs. Being fully plastic-free and biodegradable, it provides a solution for those seeking an alternative to multi-layer laminates and plastic films that are difficult to recycle.

“By providing a 100% bio-based, plastic-free alternative, SmartSolve is giving brands the tools to make bold, measurable progress toward environmental goals without sacrificing product integrity,” says Alex Abbott, chief revenue officer at SmartSolve.

One of the major sustainability benefits of PureNil 0 is its end-of-life recyclability. SmartSolve highlights that because the material disperses in water systems without releasing harmful microplastics, it’s safe for human health, drains (per INDA’s GD4 and IWSFG testing criteria), and is fully flushable.

Furthermore, the ability to safely rinse or flush the material down the drain represents a significant breakthrough. Consumers can recycle it alongside other paper products, making disposal simple and environmentally friendly.

Source: Packaging Digest.