Melodea, a sustainable packaging startup based in Israel, plans to expand its market presence in North America and South America by producing in the United States via a toll manufacturing arrangement. The company makes patented barrier coating products using cellulose crystals (CNC) produced from wood pulp, a forestry byproduct. The products are compliant with FDA food packaging regulations
The company’s CNC formula is designed to protect packaged products from humidity, water, grease, oil, and oxygen. The eco-friendly coatings are biodegradable, recyclable, and non-toxic. One line, sold under the MelOx™ name, protects packaged goods from oxygen, grease, and oil. Its VBcoat™ line counteracts the transmission of oil, grease, and water. Melodea claims that its solutions are an eco-friendly alternative to single-use plastics.
“The new plant, combined with our newly established ties in the U.S., can potentially triple our manufacturing capacity to meet amplified demands. It also will shorten the travel and subsequent carbon footprint by bringing production closer to our main markets in South America and the U.S.” said Melodea co-founder and CEO Shaul Lapidot, in a press release.
Melodea’s technology is backed by 14 patents, and the company has raised $20 million thus far. It anticipates products to begin shipping from its U.S. operation within three to six months.
While Melodea’s packaging solutions are not specifically geared toward the coffee industry, they could find a place there. Coffee companies are looking for ways to reduce their environmental footprint.
Starbucks is moving away from single-use plastics and promoting the use of reusable cups. JDE Peet’s has pledged to design 100% of its packaging to be reusable, recyclable, or compostable by 2025. Nestlé has promised to make more than 95% of its plastic packaging recyclable by 2025. Nestlé claims that 80% of its plastic packaging is already recyclable.
Corporates have been touting their efforts to reduce use of plastic, but a report from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and UN Environment Program found that some beverage companies will miss their 2025 targets. The report claims that PepsiCo and The Coca-Cola Company, among others, have actually increased their use of virgin plastic. On the other hand, Nestlé has managed to cut its use of virgin plastics by 8% during the four-year period from 2018 through 2021, according to the report.
The market for coffee packaging is expected to be worth more than $991.6 million by 2027, according to a report from Transparency Market Research. Sustainability is expected to remain a significant trend in coffee packaging, with large and small players participating.