Huhtamaki, a global supplier of foodservice packaging, has announced a partnership to introduce Xampla’s Morro coating, a plastic-free alternative to traditional barrier coatings, into its product line.
Developed by Cambridge-based tech company Xampla, Morro Coating is a plant protein-based polymer that provides effective grease, water, and oxygen barrier performance, as well as heat-seal ability, making it suitable for various food packaging applications. The coating is completely free from Per- and Polyfluorinated Substances (PFAS), also known as "forever chemicals," and plastic, making it exempt from the Single Use Plastic Directive.
The coating is designed to enable paper recyclability by being easily solubilised and removed during the repulping process, without resulting in a material that needs to be disposed of via incineration, as is the case with traditional polymer coatings.
The partnership between Huhtamaki and 2M Group of Companies will see Morro Coating deployed at scale in selected foodservice on-the-go applications at Huhtamaki's UK manufacturing facilities, which supply packaging solutions to fast food, specialty coffee, and catering brands.
Andy Hesp, General Manager of Huhtamaki UK & Ireland, said: "At Huhtamaki, our ambition and values to lead the way in sustainable food packaging are clear. Packaging enhances food security and makes everyday necessities more hygienic, more accessible and more affordable. The adoption of Xampla's technology on some of our core food service solutions further contributes towards our drive to protect food, people and the planet."
Alexandra French, CEO at Xampla, commented on the deal, stating: "This deal marks a landmark expansion of our Morro Coating in market for the packaging industry, demonstrating our support to the industry and our plastic-reduction ambitions.”
The multi-year supply deal marks the next step in Huhtamaki's journey towards using 100 per cent renewable materials in their packaging solutions. Xampla's partnership with the 2M Group of Companies, announced last year, has made significant progress in the commercialization of Morro technology. The two companies were awarded an Innovate UK SMART grant to scale-up the manufacture, supply, and distribution of Morro Coating.
The deal grants Huhtamaki exclusivity on the use of the coating in food service containers made from fluted corrugated board, while 2M Group of Companies is looking to agree on further partnerships for other applications of Xampla technology.
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