SOLIMER

Project "SOLIMER" data sheet

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 Project objective

Demand from laundry detergent retailers to provide biodegradable detergent. The demand from laundry detergent retailers to provide biodegradable detergents in capsule form (‘pods’) which meet the increasingly strict safety and environmental standards has placed enormous pressure on detergent manufacturers. The underlying cause for this change has been the increase in demand from consumers for quick and convenient washing solutions which are less messy, enable proper dosing, are safer to handle and store, and reduce the risk of spills. Current soluble film polymers are price sensitive and expensive due to the high PVOH content, and hence the retail price of laundry pods using these films, especially multicompartmental ones, is high.

Our thermo-processable, biodegradable and water-soluble polymer is suitable for all thermo-processing applications, predominantly injection moulding. It utilises a special formulation which incorporates higher sodium chloride (NaCl) and lower PVOH content. This results in a lower price per kg, increases the solubility rate of moulded products using the formulation, stabilises the atmospheric water absorption of the PVOH, and results in a high melt flow. This all contributes to a 40% advancement in process time, thus reducing manufacturing costs. The net result of this polymer development is a dimensionally stable, cost effective, highly soluble polymer now for the first time suitable for laundry unit dose applications.

This patented technology is non micro-bead forming contributing to the clean-up of our oceans. Our target market is the detergent packaging subsector of the €336 million water-soluble PVOH film market, of which the consumer segment accounts for nearly 59%. Our concept has been tested, with very encouraging early results of our beta version. Based on the early market interest and end user feedback we have forecast sales of €103.6 million and a return on investment of 1476% over the five years following commercialisation.