Biopac

Seaweed-based biopackaging: sustainable, compostable, circular, and edible

Seaweed-based biopackaging: sustainable, compostable, circular, and edible

https://youtu.be/Uapg0QJOsKY

Biopac is an Indonesian SME that uses proprietary technology to manufacture seaweed-based bio-packaging. We aim to tackle plastic waste pollution and climate change due to CO2 emission. Using seaweed is our strategy to obtain truly biodegradable, even more, edible packaging without posing a risk in deforestation or food crisis. This strategy also enables us to participate in improving the livelihood of seaweed farmers communities. We need them to cultivate seaweed to naturally transform CO2 (the pollutant) into biopolymer (the packaging material). We have to ensure that they are well-being and enjoy cultivating seaweed.

Biopac is an Indonesian SME that uses proprietary technology to manufacture seaweed-based bio-packaging. We aim to tackle plastic waste pollution and climate change due to CO2 emission. Using seaweed is our strategy to obtain truly biodegradable, even more, edible packaging without posing a risk in deforestation or food crisis. This strategy also enables us to participate in improving the livelihood of seaweed farmers communities. We need them to cultivate seaweed to naturally transform CO2 (the pollutant) into biopolymer (the packaging material). We have to ensure that they are well-being and enjoy cultivating seaweed.

Background:
We aim to decrease greenhouse gas emission and stop plastic waste problems through our product: Biopac, a seaweed-based biopackaging. This goal is now also evolving to reduce the residual chemicals and potential deforestation involved in sourcing the raw material for bioplastic production. This enterprise was started by a research project to develop biodegradable packaging in 2010, funded by PT L’Oreal Indonesia. But, transforming research output into commercial product is not a smooth path. I had to pass through 3 main challenges, i.e. team building, market penetration, and investment.

What we do:
We create a systemic change by using seaweed as the raw material and hazardous chemical-free production process. We choose seaweed as our raw material for some reasons. Firstly, to sequester CO2 more efficiently due to CO2 solubility in seawater is at least 100x than in the air. Secondly, to avoid competition with food in sourcing raw material. Thirdly, to make our products cheaper and sustainable in mass scale. Seaweed also does not need land, pesticide, fertilizer, and irrigation. In addition, its cultivation is also fast.
Our product is safe for the entire ecosystem. Even more, it could be produced in edible grade by HACCP-compliant company. Our first product, Biopac sheet, was initially inspired by the unseen plastic waste problem caused by the usage of plastic-adhered food wrapper that is commonly used by vast majority of fast-food restaurants. But then our happy customers asked for more application of the Biopac, while we also run our continuous research and development process. We have expanded our product to sachet, gusset, bag, seal-tape, and vacuum bag. We are committed to explore more product application of our product with some products have already been in our gallery.

How we do:
We employ circular economy from farmers to end users. We encourage and support our farmers through the cooperatives to standardize their product quality and implement Good Agricultural Practices. We realize that the efforts to solve plastic waste problem must be done by all stakeholders as the problem is created by all stakeholders in the world (un)consciously. We, as the packaging industry, must do continuous innovation and development to produce truly ecofriendly packaging at affordable price. We endlessly educate industries or individuals who use packaging, to know the difference of conventional and ecofriendly packaging. Not overusing the packaging though you can afford it is a wisdom to minimize unnecessary waste. Avoid nondegradable material for your single use packaging at the best level you could do is also another wisdom to decrease the severity of packaging waste accumulation. While we decrease plastic pollution and improve seaweed farmers’ livelihood, we help our customers’ business to enhance their sustainability.

How the work has been received:
It can be said that eco-conscious people could accept our product, and they are willing to adapt with it.

Our impacts:
- Environmental impacts: through our product, we create ripple effects: reduce plastic waste, decrease green-house gas emission, the source of microplastic, and air pollution due to plastic burning
- Health impact: we cut the route of microplastic entering our gastrointestinal and blocking the enzyme and placenta of unborn babies, we cut the route of plastic additive volatiles entering our respiratory system.
- Social impacts: 1) empower seaweed farmers family and create job.
Through our website, webinars, and one-on-one discussion, we raise people awareness about plastic waste pollution and its adverse effects to entire ecosystem. We also initiate mutual collaboration with our customers to do cross-selling so that both of us could create more impacts.

Background:
We aim to decrease greenhouse gas emission and stop plastic waste problems through our product: Biopac, a seaweed-based biopackaging. This goal is now also evolving to reduce the residual chemicals and potential deforestation involved in sourcing the raw material for bioplastic production. This enterprise was started by a research project to develop biodegradable packaging in 2010, funded by PT L’Oreal Indonesia. But, transforming research output into commercial product is not a smooth path. I had to pass through 3 main challenges, i.e. team building, market penetration, and investment.

What we do:
We create a systemic change by using seaweed as the raw material and hazardous chemical-free production process. We choose seaweed as our raw material for some reasons. Firstly, to sequester CO2 more efficiently due to CO2 solubility in seawater is at least 100x than in the air. Secondly, to avoid competition with food in sourcing raw material. Thirdly, to make our products cheaper and sustainable in mass scale. Seaweed also does not need land, pesticide, fertilizer, and irrigation. In addition, its cultivation is also fast.
Our product is safe for the entire ecosystem. Even more, it could be produced in edible grade by HACCP-compliant company. Our first product, Biopac sheet, was initially inspired by the unseen plastic waste problem caused by the usage of plastic-adhered food wrapper that is commonly used by vast majority of fast-food restaurants. But then our happy customers asked for more application of the Biopac, while we also run our continuous research and development process. We have expanded our product to sachet, gusset, bag, seal-tape, and vacuum bag. We are committed to explore more product application of our product with some products have already been in our gallery.

How we do:
We employ circular economy from farmers to end users. We encourage and support our farmers through the cooperatives to standardize their product quality and implement Good Agricultural Practices. We realize that the efforts to solve plastic waste problem must be done by all stakeholders as the problem is created by all stakeholders in the world (un)consciously. We, as the packaging industry, must do continuous innovation and development to produce truly ecofriendly packaging at affordable price. We endlessly educate industries or individuals who use packaging, to know the difference of conventional and ecofriendly packaging. Not overusing the packaging though you can afford it is a wisdom to minimize unnecessary waste. Avoid nondegradable material for your single use packaging at the best level you could do is also another wisdom to decrease the severity of packaging waste accumulation. While we decrease plastic pollution and improve seaweed farmers’ livelihood, we help our customers’ business to enhance their sustainability.

How the work has been received:
It can be said that eco-conscious people could accept our product, and they are willing to adapt with it.

Our impacts:
- Environmental impacts: through our product, we create ripple effects: reduce plastic waste, decrease green-house gas emission, the source of microplastic, and air pollution due to plastic burning
- Health impact: we cut the route of microplastic entering our gastrointestinal and blocking the enzyme and placenta of unborn babies, we cut the route of plastic additive volatiles entering our respiratory system.
- Social impacts: 1) empower seaweed farmers family and create job.
Through our website, webinars, and one-on-one discussion, we raise people awareness about plastic waste pollution and its adverse effects to entire ecosystem. We also initiate mutual collaboration with our customers to do cross-selling so that both of us could create more impacts.

www.biopac.id