Melodea developed a plant-based, recyclable barrier coating for packaged products

Image courtesy of Melodea Ltd.

Melodea Ltd. (Rehovot, Israel) developed MelOx, a plant-sourced barrier coating that protects packaged products from oxygen and oil and grease transmission; and Melodea VBcoat, which protects packaged goods from water vapor and oil and grease transmission.

The recyclable barrier coating material is sourced from wood pulp, the same raw material used to make paper, by extracting cellulose nanocrystals. This green solution helps paper and packaging producers meet their sustainability goals quicker while eliminating plastic waste.

“Cellulose, the primary building block of the cell walls of all plants, is the most abundant biopolymer on the planet,” said Shaul Lapidot, PhD, CEO and co-founder of Melodea, in a press release. “It provides plants with extraordinary strength and is a lightweight—yet strong—material. We found that this bounteous and renewable material can be utilized to produce novel, eco-friendly packaging alternatives for the packaging industry.”

The coatings are compostable and non-toxic for people and the environment. Once done with the package, it can be thrown away in a recycling bin. 

“Consumers are imposing more strident demands when it comes to the welfare of the planet, and this increasingly resonates in their purchasing behavior,” adds Lapidot. “Concurrently, the supply chain is ‘greening’ up its act, especially in light of legislative measures curbing plastic use. The Melodea barrier coating helps the packaging industry make a smoother shift from petroleum-based plastics to plant-based materials, without compromising safety or performance.”