The latest news, trends, analysis, interviews and podcasts from the global food and beverage industry

Peak Nano has launched a development programme to create nanolayered biodegradable multilayer polymer films for food and beverage, as well as medical packaging.

The initiative is supported by R&D funding from the Greater Akron Polymer Innovation Hub and will use the company’s patented NanoPlex metamaterials technology to develop a sustainable alternative to conventional barrier films while maintaining performance.

Peak Nano’s proposal was selected through a competitive process that reviewed more than 40 regional submissions. It is one of eight projects receiving Innovation Hub support.

The project aims to replace traditional multilayer packaging films, which often consist of tightly bonded polymer layers and additives that are difficult to recycle and can fragment over time, releasing micro- and nanoparticles into the environment.

The new films are designed to deliver high barrier performance for demanding food and medical applications while enabling biodegradability.

NanoPlex technology, developed at Case Western Reserve University, enables films to be produced with thousands of precisely controlled polymer layers rather than blended materials. This structure allows multiple material properties to be combined in a single film, including atmospheric control, molecular permeability, biodegradability, conductivity and insulation.

Nanolayer coextrusion and biaxial orientation processes also improve oxygen and water-vapour resistance and enhance durability for converting and packaging operations.

Michael Ponting, chief scientific officer at Peak Nano, said: “With NanoPlex, we can create nanolayers that let us dial in characteristics like barrier performance, mechanical strength and even degradability. This lets us tackle one of the toughest problems in packaging. We can now design biodegradable nanolayer structures that give converters the barrier and mechanical properties they need, with a much better end‑of‑life story.”

The project forms part of a wider portfolio of Innovation Hub initiatives focused on bio-based materials, recyclable packaging and performance polymers.

The Hub, powered by the Polymer Industry Cluster and the Greater Akron Chamber, is deploying a $42 million Innovation Hubs award and matching funds over four years to advance shared R&D priorities, establish a polymer pilot facility and support startups and scaleups developing sustainable polymer technologies.

Hans Dorfi, executive director and chief innovation officer at Polymer Industry Cluster, commented: “The Polymer Industry Cluster was created to tackle shared problems that no single company can solve. Peak Nano’s films show how we can align world‑class materials science with our region’s deep expertise in polymer science and advanced manufacturing to address global environmental challenges and create new economic opportunities here at home.”

During the current phase, Peak Nano and its partners will produce prototype biodegradable nanolayer film systems and test them on commercial equipment used for food and medical packaging. Later phases will include biodegradability testing, cost and scale-up modelling and development of a commercialisation roadmap to supply nanolayered biodegradable films to brand owners and converters.

The company plans to leverage its Ohio manufacturing footprint and regional partnerships to bring the materials to market.

Jean-Claude Kihn, co-chair of the Hub’s innovation and commercialisation committee, added: “This collaboration is about turning leadership in advanced materials into commercial reality with regional economic impact. By backing Peak Nano’s technology and scale‑up in Ohio, we’re helping translate the state’s century‑long polymer heritage into next‑generation sustainable materials and high‑value jobs."

Top image: © Peak Nano