This collaboration equips packaging manufacturers with credible assurance that Xampla’s Morro materials comply with the stringent UK and EU regulations on single-use plastics, including the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR).
Currently, a universally accepted method for verifying plastic-free materials does not exist, despite increasing regulatory pressure to eliminate single-use plastics. Therefore, this initiative establishes a groundbreaking validation method for plastic-free claims.
According to the EU’s REACH regulation, plastics are defined as ‘polymers to which additives or other substances have been added,’ stating that natural polymers which are unmodified chemically do not qualify as plastics.
Utilizing advanced spectroscopy and high-resolution microscopy, NPL scientists compared the chemical and physical signatures of Morro’s natural polymers before and after processing. The findings showed no significant chemical alterations, affirming that Xampla’s Morro materials remain unmodified and, therefore, meet the EU REACH definition of being plastic-free, as well as SUPD-exempt.
In contrast to many common household paper and cardboard packaging, which often contains a thin plastic coating rendering it unrecyclable, Xampla’s Morro line of coatings and films—currently employed by Just Eat Takeaway—are crafted from plant-derived natural polymers.
Xampla states that the material offers similar grease and water resistance to plastic while being biodegradable, home compostable, and compatible with existing recycling infrastructure.
“Given the rapid pace of regulatory change, packaging companies desperately need credible assurance about any plastic-free product they buy,” stated Dr. Marc Rodriguez Garcia, co-founder and CTO at Xampla.
“We hope this approach – the first of its kind as far as we know – can now be replicated by others to support plastic-free innovation more broadly. For Xampla, this work with NPL conclusively proves that our Morro materials are plastic-free at a chemical level and so meet existing regulations. Having the data from world-leading independent measurement scientists lets us alleviate doubts of even the most cautious customers.”
Professor Max Ryadnov, NPL fellow, added: “Eventually, this work could lead to the development of standards to support plastic-free materials and processes used to manufacture them. Such standards will provide manufacturers and regulators with clear and internationally recognized benchmarks against which plastic-free claims can be verified.”
According to Smithers, the market for functional and barrier coatings for paper and board is set to reach 4.25 million tonnes, valued at nearly $11 billion, by 2028. Thus, Xampla aims to replace 10 billion items of single-use plastic with its Morro materials over the next five years.
