Lactips and SmartSolve Launched Plastic-Free Packaging
The partnership offers food and beauty brands a new, bio-based substrate designed to replace conventional plastic.
Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in Consumer Goods
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Lactips and SmartSolve have achieved commercial scale for their joint venture, producing a 100% plastic-free packaging substrate named PureNil 0. This water-soluble, biodegradable material is approved for direct food contact and serves the personal care and beverage markets.
Why it matters
As regulators and consumers intensify pressure to reduce plastic waste, this development provides brands with a viable, compliant alternative for flexible packaging. The partnership combines material science with existing paper-based infrastructure to lower the barrier for adopting sustainable packaging.
The new PureNil 0 material consists of 100% bio-based content, offering a fully biodegradable alternative to standard plastic substrates. The material has officially reached commercial scale following a collaborative development process that began in 2024.
The players
Lactips
A French material science company that specializes in natural polymer resin technology.
SmartSolve
A United States-based firm that produces bio-based, water-soluble, and functionalized paper materials.
The details
PureNil 0 utilizes a functionalized paper base from SmartSolve integrated with natural polymer resin technology developed by Lactips. This substrate is designed to be printable, flexible, and fully dispersible in water, allowing manufacturers to integrate it into existing production lines. Because the material is already approved for direct food contact, brands can bypass certain validation hurdles when replacing traditional plastic film or foil components.
Timeline
Collaborative R&D work between the firms began in 2024.
The official partnership announcement was made on September 29, 2026.
Market Landscape
This partnership follows the pattern set by global mandates like the European Union's Single-Use Plastics Directive by providing a technical solution for firms seeking to meet stricter environmental compliance standards. The move reflects a broader trend among material science firms to bridge the gap between niche lab prototypes and large-scale industrial packaging.
Operations managers should evaluate whether this substrate fits existing machinery, as the material is designed to be printable and flexible. Companies in food and personal care should monitor the supply chain for this material as the firms continue developing future generations of bio-based products.
The takeaway
The commercialization of PureNil 0 signals that biodegradable substrates are reaching a stage where they can compete with traditional plastics in food-contact applications. Operators should verify if their current packaging specifications qualify for the same regulatory exemptions as this water-soluble polymer.
Further reading
For more on evolving material standards, visit Consumer Goods.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Packaging World.
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