Israeli Startup Launches Sustainable Packaging Solution

An Israeli startup has launched a sustainable solution to cut plastic waste in packaging for food and other goods.

Melodea has developed a new barrier coating – the thin plastic or aluminum lining that prevents liquids leaking out, or air getting into sealed packets of dried goods.

It is resistant to water vapor, oil, aroma, and has heat-sealing properties. It is designed to line the packaging of fresh foods, cereals, fast foods, baked goods, meat and dairy products, and even detergents and cosmetics. 

Traditional barrier coatings cannot be separated from cardboard or paper packaging that is otherwise recyclable, resulting in millions of tons of waste that could have been given another life. 

“Packaging producers have an urgent need for a sustainable barrier coating that has both water vapor protection and heat sealable properties and can replace the commonly used plastic PE layer,” said Cee Azerraf, VP Sales & Marketing at Melodea.

“Our R&D team worked on this new product joining our existing [product] and, as with all of our products, it was crucial that it be recyclable and easy to apply on existing coating lines.”

Melodea has also opened a new pilot center, and invested $500,000 in advanced equipment and analytics tools to support consumer packaged goods companies, and packaging producers in their efforts to be more sustainable. 

The new center will serve companies across the packaging value chain in exploring sustainable barrier solutions in plastic, paper, and bioplastics. 

Shaul Lapidot, CEO, said: “We offer our clients a location to evaluate their products using our eco-friendly solutions, with full control of the coating process.

“We can utilize Melodea’s R&D team’s vast know-how of coatings with optimizing barrier performance, and analyze the results on site, as well as help shorten time-to-market for new products and packages.”