Lactips technology

 

A technology from 100% natural and biodegradable products in the different environments, developed to meet the needs of industry

The Lactips technology was developed in a polymer materials engineering (IMP in French) laboratory at the University of Saint-Etienne. It is the result of 10 years of research by Frédéric Prochazka, a professor, as well as the co-founder and scientific director of Lactips.

His research focused on animal proteins called caseins, which have well-known plastic properties. First used to make Erinoid (also known as Galalith) in the late 19th century, caseins are used today as additives in paint, glue, paper, food products, and cosmetics. Unlike Erinoid, the Lactips technology relies on a combination of 100% natural ingredients that do not undergo any chemical transformation.

As such, the material produced from the Lactips technology:

  • is not subject to the EU REACH regulation on chemicals,
  • is in compliance with single-use plastics regulations,
  • is certified for home composting and is biodegradable in all environments.

The Lactips material is not registered as a plastic material, but it possesses the properties of plastic. It can be easily incorporated into existing manufacturing processes thanks to its compatibility with commonly used manufacturing equipment.
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A technology offering a combination of unparalleled properties

The properties of the Lactips pellet, compared to all conventional plastics and bioplastics:

Specific technical properties

In addition to being a 100% bio-based and biodegradable material, the Lactips material distinguishes itself from standard plastics thanks to its technical properties. Indeed, it has special performance qualities.

Clean
A natural polymer without chemical transformation
Biodegradable in aquatic environments and home-compostable

Reliable
Safe for contact with food
Environmentally friendly labels
Edible

Customisable
Strong barrier properties
(against oxygen, fats, and mineral oils [MOSH, MOAH])
Water-soluble
Print-ready
Sealable

A substitute material for water-soluble plastics

The most important property of the Lactips material is its solubility. Its formulation makes it water-soluble at both high and low temperatures. Numerous tests have shown that it does not leave behind any residue after dissolving, which makes it perfect for applications such as detergent packaging, for example. All of this means greater consumer satisfaction and access to new uses and new markets for our partners.

It is also recognised as being biodegradable in marine environments, which means that it won’t leave any toxic particles in the ocean.
These properties make it a natural substitute for plastic. While improving performance, it also helps improve the recyclability of products and eliminates dangers for the environment at the end of the product life cycle.

A material adapted to the specific needs of manufacturers

The Lactips material is an innovation adapted to the needs of the plastics industry. Its form and formulation were developed to be compatible with the standard production machines used by the vast majority of businesses in the sector. The Lactips material can be converted using existing processes (extrusion, blow moulding, injection moulding, vertical and horizontal flow packing).

The material is also customisable as, in particular, it is print-ready: this is an advantage offering visibility and recognition of efforts for major consumer brands.

Lactips